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THE 

LITTLE TEACHER 

A COMEDY IN FOUR ACTS 



BY 

HARRY JAMES SMITH 



CpPYRiGHT, January, 1919, by Edith Smith, 
Administratrix of Estate of Harry James Smith 



J 

THE 

LITTLE TEACHER 



A COMEDY IN FOUR ACTS 

\o7 



BY 



HARRY JAMES SMITH 



Copyright, January, 1919, by Edith Smith, 
Administratrix of Estate of Harry James Smith 



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CID 51027 
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-^^ CAST OF CHARACTERS 

'-1 

Emily West 
^-^ Mrs. Caldwell 
^ Miss Meech 
^ Mrs. Hodges 
* Mrs. Gresham 

Mrs. Tarberry 

Mrs. Dale , 

Pansy Rollins 

Aggie Brazee 

Marie 

Andy 

Damien Bailey 

Lucius Bowman '^' . 

Pug 

Batiste 

Neal Broockway 

Bert Gresham 

EzEKiEL Fox 

James McCullom 

Mr. Brown 

Mr. Dunham 



The action of the play transpires in Goshen Hollow 
a village in the Vermont Hills. ^ 

SYNOPSIS OF SCENES 

ACT I A Country School House. 

March, 191 7. 
ACT n A Living Room at Mrs. Hodges' 
Ar^ TTT o Evening of the same day. 
^K^i 111 ^ame as Act I. 

^^1 1111 c^ame as Act II 

Summer, 191 7. 



DESCRIPTION OF CHARACTERS 



Damien Bailey : 15 years old : is a hoy at the most 
azi'kzcard age of rural boyhood. His sleeves 
and trousers noticeably too short. 

Aggie Brazee: 13 years old: a stupid girl in a 
checked dress and pigtails; good-natured 
and fat. 

Lucius Bowman: 12 years old: he is an eager, 
restless little darkey full of the dickens. 

IMarie Gresiiam : 6 years old : an under-nourished 
delicate child, sister of Andy Gresham. 

Andy Gresham : 8 years old : a little chap of deli- 
cate physique and sensitive, wistful face; 
poorly dressed. 

Pansy Rollins : 16 years old : an empty-headed 
coujitry miss, impressed zvith the importance 
of her present duties and authority. 

Mrs. Caldwell : 45 years old : a firmly built, posi- 
tive woman, quite able to manage other peo- 
ple's business as well as her ozvn. She zvears 
zvinter wraps of country design, driving mitts, 
long heavy gray veil szvathed about her 
bonnet. 

Sabrina Meech : 40 years old : an affected, minc- 
ing spinster anxious to be thought stylish and 
cultured. 

Neal Brockway : 40 years old : a good-looking, 
carefully groomed country gentleman, zvith a 
constant inanner of being well pleased with 
himself. 

Emily West : 25 years old : a slight, appealing, 
resolute, dauntless girl, dressed quietly, but 
with chic. 

Pug Dermott : 31 years old : a big, splendidly built 

4 



THE LITTLE TEACHER . 5 

fdlozv with imttitored manners and an accent 
and vocabulary that suggests Third Avenue 
or West Street. He is in lumberman's at- 
tire, sheep-skin coat, corduroys, felt-top knee 
boots, visored cap with ear lappets. 

Batiste : 30 years old : a French Canuck, a rougJi, 
good-natured, buoyant chap, with a dog-like 
affection for Pug. 

Bert Gresham : 45 years old : a thick-set, passion- 
ate, cruel-looking man, excited by liquor, con- 
stantly in a fury of brutal anger. He brand- 
ishes the stock of a razv-kide. Not a rural 
type. 

Mrs. Hodges : 55 years old : a stolid, rheumatic, 
pessimistical woman. You feel that she has 
conceived a permanent grudge against the 
world as if other people's happiness and the 
common joys and affections of life all aroused 
in her a positive and actual animosity. 

Ezekiel Fox: 45 years old: a wiry, dried up man 
with an eccentric personality. 

Liz Gresham : 38 years old : a sinister person zvith 
a face of the gypsy type, seared and hardened, 
bleak, full of hatred. 

McCuLLOM : 50 years old : a portly, country magis- 
trate, a shrezvd well-fed, self-satisfied, with 
a buttered, master-of-ceremonies manner. 

Dunham : 50 years old : a tall, lank, severe man, a 
type of Yankee Pharisee. 

Brown : 40 years old : a fussy, irritable dyspeptic. 

Mrs. Tarberry : 50 years old : the wife of a rural 
clergyman, with all the airs pertaining to 
same; gushy, excessively szveet and patron- 
ising, and sentimental. 

Mrs. Dale : 30 years old : a tall, exquisite, graci- 
ous woman. 



THE LITTLE TEACHER 



ACT I 



Scene : A Country Schoolroom in the hills of Ver- 
mont in the early Spring. Entrance to same 
from the outside through door down left at 
Center. On the hack flat are large double 
windows ; the one on the stage left being prac- 
tical so that it can he raised from the bottom. 
Door up right leading into Coatroom; Hall 
hackings for doors left and right. Through 
windows is seen a landscape drop of the Ver- 
mont Hills in Winter, covered with snow and 
carried off with wings of the same. The stage 
hack of windows is covered with snow cloth. 
In schoolroom at right below door is an elevated 
platform, about eighteen inches high on which 
stand teacher's desk and kitchen chair ; below 
platform a school bench.. Across stage are 'sev- 
eral rough school desks and benches and down 
stage in front of desks, about stage center a 
small table and two rough home-made chairs. 
At stage left, above door, an old-fashioned 
country wood stove with pipe, etc., running up 
to hole in flat. On each side of window hack, 
a large blackboard; on the one right " A Mem- 
ory gem for to-day," and a rough drawing of 
an American Flag and one excellent drawing of 
American, Flag. On blackboard left one excel- 
lent dxazving of a map of Northern France and 
the word '' Joffre '' spelled out and the correct 

7 



8 THE LITTLE TEACHER 

pronunciation given. On the zvalls of room 
hang pictures of Washington, Lincoln, Wil- 
son, etc., and several pictures cut from chil- 
dren's picture hooks, etc. 

Discovered: At the teacher's desk sits Pansy in 
temporary charge; an empty-headed Miss of i6, 
impressed with the importance of her present 
duties and authority. Damien is copying and 
re copy in q a list of spelling words. Aggie stands 
at the blackboard up r. making a copy of the 
flag. Andy is poring over a book. Marie sits 
in front of him looking at a picture book. Lu- 
cius is doing examples in arithmetic on a slate. 
As the curtain rise he is whistling. 

Pansy. {With teacher-like severity) Lucius 
Bowman, stop that whistling at once ! Do you hear 
me! 

Lucius. Huh ! You hain't the teacher ! 
{Whistles again) 

Pansy. I be too the teacher ! Miss West told 
me — and you heard her — I was to be teacher while 
she jok Denny Squiers home with the nose bleed. 

Lucius. {Not at all subdued) Well, how'm I 
gwine to help it if my lips puckers sometimes. 
'Tain't my fault. {Whistles again) 

Pansy. 'Tis your fault, and I forbid you to do 
it again! (Lucius whistles again) You do that 
once more and I'll punish you severely ! {He 
whistles again. Pansy jumps to her feet) I'll tell 
teacher, I will ! I'll tell teacher ! 

Lucius. {Rises and crosses in front of the 
desk) Now ain't that lak a girl! Tell teacher! 
Tell tale, tattle tale ! {Pointing his finger at her) 

Pansy. You're a bad, wicked boy! 

Damien. {Rise's, crosses to c. and turns Lucius 
around) Oh, look here, Lucius, quit it ! 



THE LITTLE TEACHER 9 

Lucius. (Grinning) Quit what. I ain^t a-doin' 
nothing ! 

Damien. Well, go back to your seat. (Pushes 
Lucius into his seat) 

Pansy. (With affected sweetness) Thank you, 
Damien, for bein' so polite. 

Damien. (With a grunt of disgitst as he goes 
back to his seat) Humph! 

Aggie. (Comes down in front of desk) Pansy, 
can I get a drink? 

Pansy. (Weary and puzzled) Aggie Brazee, 
you're always wantin' a drink. What is the reason ? 

Aggie. (Promptly) 'Cause I'm thirsty. 

Pansy. (Consenting with a 'sigh) Well, but be 
quick. You were kept after school to work, not to 
enjoy yourself. 

Aggie. (Mildly, as she goes up r.) Yes'm. 

Pansy. And, Aggie! 

Aggie. (Halting) Yes'm? 

Pansy. Bring me one, too. 

Aggie. Yes'm. (Exits, leaving upper R. door 
open. At the same time two women are seen, 
crossing outside the window r. to l.) 

Andy. (Runs to the window, followed by Marie) 
Visitors ! Visitors ! 

Marie. (Echoing faithfully) Visitors. Vis- 
itors ! 

Pansy. (With the delighted flutter of 16 sum- 
mers) Oh, my stars ! Whatever will we do now ! 
Miss West gone and all you children kept in after 
school ! 

(Mrs. Caldwell enters l. She is a firmly built, 
positive woman of 45, quite able to manage 
other people's busine'ss as well as her own. She 
wears winter wraps of country design; driving 
mitts, which she removes; long heavy veil 
szvathed about her bonnet.) 



10 THE LITTLE TEACHER 

Mrs. Caldwell. (After one look about the 
schoolroom; to her companion, Miss Meech, who 
is following) Yes, we're in time. Come in, Sa- 
brina. (She enters the schoolroom as if it be- 
longed to her. Miss Meech enters) 

Pansy. (Comes down r. zvith a flutter) Miss 
West ain't here, ma'am. 

Mrs. Cald. Miss West not here ? What do you 
mean, girl? (To Miss Meech) Says Miss West 
ain't here. 

(Andy and Marie come down l.) 

Meech. Well, that's very odd I must say! Not 
here ! 

Pansy. Yes, ma'am, — I mean no, ma'am. She 
had to take Denny Squiers home with the nose- 
bleed. 

(Aggie enters from coatroom.) 

Mrs. Cald. (Coming c. surprised and disap- 
proving) Nosebleed ! That's a new reason for 
taking a child home. 

Pansy. Oh, but this was terrible bad ! All over 
everything! And teacher says — (Backs up-stage 
R. as Mrs. Caldwell crosses) 

Mrs. Cald. (Impatiently, as she crosses to r.) 
Yes, yes, my child! But why are all these children 
here after school hours ? 

Lucius. (With satisfaction, as he rises) We're 
bad! 

Meech. (r. c.) Gracious! 

Aggie. (Coming down-stage r.) Not me! I 
I ain't bad. 

Mrs. Cald. Then why did you have to stay ? 

Aggie. (Self-satisfied) Just 'cause Fm stupid. 

Meech. (Horror-stricken) The child boasts 
of it! 



THE LITTLE TEACHER ii 

Aggie. (WtJi a certain pride) Ma says I'm 
prob'ly the stoopidest child in the whole state of 
Vermont. Can't ding nothing into my head, Ma 
says. 

Mrs. Cald. You poor child ! 

Aggie. (Perfectly contented with her lot) Oh, 
I don't mind. As long as I ain't got red hair, I 
don't mind nothin'. (Returns to blackboard up 
R. c.) 

Pansy. (To Mrs. Cal well, trying to do the 
honors) Will you wait? 

Mrs. Cald. Certainly, as we came on an errand. 
Sit down Sabrina. (Sits R. on bench) 

Meech. (Crossing to bench down r. and dusting 
it) Whatever you say, Mrs. Caldwell, but I'm sure 
this place is full of germs. (Sits r. of Mrs. Cald- 
well) 

(Pansy returns to the teacher's desk.)^ 

Mrs. Cald. (Siting up the children) Well, Sa- 
brina, you can see for yourself. This is Goshen 
Hollow ! 

Meech. (As if looking at curiosities in a mu- 
seum) - Only five miles from our cultured little 
town of Goshen Centre and it's another world. You 
can read the story even in these children's faces; 
there's a hard look. 

Mrs. Cald. (To Lucius) Little black boy, 
there, come here. (Lucius rises and goes r. c.) 
Does your father drink? 

Lucius. Drink! (Facing audience) Whoo! 

Aggie. (Loyally, coining dozvn-stage r. ) Can't 
beat my father ! 

Lucius. Can too ! 

Aggie. Can not! 

Pansy. (With severity, as she comes down be- 
tween them) Children! Lucius Bowman, you go 



12 THE LITTLE TEACHER 

right back to your seat ! (Pushes Aggie up-stage 
and LucTus into his seat, then turns to Mrs. Cald- 
well) That Bowman boy is the worst in the school. 
Partly I expect it's bein' so much with the lumber- 
men. You know there's been a gang of them tim- 
berin' off up back o' Bowman's. Ma's sca't to send 
me to school 'cause I got to pass close to where 
they're sawin'. 

Meech. {With virtuous forebodings) I hope 
none of them has ever accosted you. 

Pansy. (Self-satisfied) Yes, ma'am. But I put 
and run for it. 

Mrs. Cald. (Firmly) Right! I hope you will 
continue to do that through life. 

Pansy. I hope so. (Goes up to desk) 

Meech. (To Andy) And who are you, little 
boy over there? 

Andy. (Sturdily, as he rises and moves r. c, 
Marie crossing zvith him) Andy Gresham. And 
she's my sister. 

Meech. (Searching her memory) Gresham? 

Mrs. Caldwell. (To Pansy) Gresham? 

Pansy. (Making a show of disguising what she 
is saying from the children) Bert Gresham, you 
know ! The man people say set fire to the lumber 
mill. He's got an awful reputation. 

Mrs. Cald. Oh, yes! (To Andy) And let me 
see ! Little boy, isn't your mother I-talian*? 

Andy. (Defiantly) Not very I-talian. 

Lucius. (Jeeringly) Eats maccaroni. 

Andy. (Hotly, going toward Lucius) She does 
not! 

Lucius. I done seen her! Yes, sah! 

Pansy. Silence! Do you hear me! (Lucius, 
Andy and Marie take their seats. Pansy con- 
tinues to Mrs. Caldwell) People say Mrs. Gresh- 
am is a Sicilian. 



THE LITTLE TEACHER 13 

Meecii. Oh, Sicilian! I knew it was something 
outlandish. 

Aggie. (Looking out of zvindow up r.) Here's 
Mr. Brock way. 

Pansy. (Excitedly) Oh, my stars ! And him 
the school committee man ! ( Comes from behind 
desk and r. c. Brock way enters from l.) Good 
afternoon, Mr. Brockway. Miss West ain't here 
and there's visitors. 

Brockway. Visitors? So I see! (Crossing to 
r.) Mrs. Caldwell ! This is delightful ! And Miss 
Meech ! I'm on my rounds, you see. 

Mrs. Cald. (Drily) Yes, calHn' on the teachers! 

Brockway.. As chairman of the Goshen school 
committee I have to keep an eye on them, especially 
the new ones. 

Mrs. Cald. (With decision) Then you're just 
the man we want to see, Mr. Brockway. 

Brockway. Really? (Sits on bench r. c.) 

Mrs. Cald. We're instructed to make recom- 
mendations for or against invitin' Miss West to 
join our Ladies' Parish Circle over to Goshen 
Centre. 

Brockway. Oh, I see! 

Meech. Mr. Brockway, will you tell me this: 
JVhy did you go to work and hire a teacher from 
New York City of all places under heaven? 

Mrs. Cald. That's what I say! A body might 
send to New York for a hair dresser or a dancing 
girl — but a school teacher! 

Brockway. But didn't you know that Miss 
West's father was born only a few miles from 
here? 

Mrs. Caldwell. (Impatiently) Well, cer- 
tainly I knew that. 

Meech. But it's thirty years since Robert West 
went off to the city to make his fortune. 

Mrs. Cald. Fortune ! Yes— and died as poor 



14 THE LITTLE TEACHER 

as he began. Queer from the very start. 

Meech. And from all I can learn, his daughter 
takes pretty close after him. 

Mrs. Cald. (Rather sharply) But, Mr. Brock- 
way, you haven't told us yet why you come to hire 
her. 

Brockway. Well, you see her health suflfered 
through worry and overwork. She was her fath- 
er's nurse, you know, during those last years. The 
doctors ordered country air. Well, she wanted to 
come back to her father's home town, and as she 
had to support herself she applied to us for a school. 

Mrs. Cald. But had she had any experience? 

Brockway. No, but that's not a thing we can 
insist on in appointing a teacher to a back district 
like Goshen HoPow. The salary is only nine dol- 
lars a week and she has to pay out six of that for 
board at Mrs. Hodges'. 

Mrs. Cald. Well, that leaves three for clothes, 
don't it? I dress, and dress quite well enough, on 
thirty dollars a year. 

Brockway. But you know the bad name of 
Goshen Hollow. 

Mrs. Cald. All the more need for a good teacher. 

Brockway. We've lost two here already this 
year. They simply won't stay. {Rises, crosses to 
l. and up l. to stove) 

Mrs. Cald. {Skeptically) Well, I hope it may 
be for the best. 

Aggie. {At the window, excitedly, joyously) 
I see teacher ! I see teacher. She's a-running to 
beat all ! 

Mrs. Cald. {Shocked) Running! {Rises and 
steps to window) Running! She is. Skirts Up to 
her knees and no hat ! 

Meech. That's the New York of it. 

(Emily passes the window r. to l. running.) 



THE LITTLE TEACHER 15 

Andy. . (In sturdy defense of his idol) I like 
her to run ! 

Mrs. Cald. (Coming dozvn to r.) That's the 
worst of it — a child would' 

Emily. (Enters, breathless) At last ! Did you 
think I was never com — (Crossing to c.) Oh, ex- 
cuse me ! I didn't know ! This is a surprise ! (Go- 
ing to R. c.) What must you think of me. I hope, 
Pansy, that you explained what had happened? 

(Pansy, with a nod of her head, exits R.) 

Brockway. Miss West, this is Mrs. Caldwell 
and Miss Meech. These ladies have come over 
from Goshen Centre on an errand. 

Emily. (Heartily, as she goes to the ladies and 
shakes hands) Oh, I'm so awfully glad to know 
you! I've been here three weeks now and hardly 
spoken to a soul. 

Mrs. Cald. (Chillingly) Do you always go 
traipsing around the neighborhood without a hat 
on your head ? 

Emily. (Maintaining her air of friendly gaiety) 
Oh, dear me, no ! I wear one quite often. (Indi- 
cating her hat hanging above desk) See, there it 
is. But all I could think of this afternoon was to 
get that little chap home ! He was so weak after 
his nosebleed. But it's all right now. I've put him 
to bed. 

Meech. (Scandalized) To bed ! You! 

Emily. Oh, I just love putting little boys to bed; 
getting them into their nighties. Don't you? 

Meech. (Severely) Certainly not ! 

Emily. (With the alert, smiling charm of a born 
hostess) No matter ! Let's all sit down again and 
have a nice visit. (Mrs. Caldwell and Meech 
sit on bench) Pansy dear, I'm grateful to you for 
taking charge. 



i6 THE LITTLE TEACHER 

Pansy. (Flustered and giggling, crossing to 
L.) Oh, that's all right. If Vd been home I'd have 
had to be washin' out baby things, but probably 
ma's got it done by this time. 'Bye! (Exits l.) 

Emily. Good-bye, Pansy. 

Brock WAY. (Coining down l.) Miss West, I 
must have a little talk with you on this matter of 
disc'pline. I dont like to see all these children 
kept after school. 

Emily. (Gayly pathetic) Neither do L Isn't it 
scandalous ! They've all been so naughty to-day. 
Mrs. Caldwell, tell me: how does one become a 
disciplinarian? You've taught school and can ex- 
plain it. 

Mrs. Cald. How could you tell I'd taught 
school ? 

Emily. (Going to her, innocent and friendly) 
Just to look at you. And you were a famous suc- 
cess, too. 

Mrs. Cald. (Compelled to he a little pleased) 
Well, the discipline never give me one particle of 
trouble. Either it's in you or it isn't in you — and 
that ends it. 

Emily. Not for me! 

Brockway. Well, I'll look in on my way home, 
Miss West. Good afternoon, ladies. 

The Women. Good afternoon. 

(Brockway exits l.) 

Emily. And now you'll forgive me if first of all 
I let some of these ridiculous little culprits go home. 
Fm sure their penance is completed. 

Mrs. Cald. Whatever you think best. (Chats 
zvith Miss Meech in undertones) 

Emily. (Crosfses to Damien's desk) Well, 
Damien, have you copied out those two hundred 
spelling words? 



THE LITTLE TEACHER 17 

Damien. (Giving her a closely written slate) 
Yes'm. 

Emily. (Examining it) That's very neat, careful 
work. (Lays it down on the desk) And Damien, 
will you promise me to try and not use any more of 
those horrible swear words before the other chil- 
dren? If you feel that you simply must swear, 
promise to do it just for me — confidentially. 

Damien. Yes'm. 

Emily. Then you may go now. Good-bye. 
(Turns to Aggie as Damien rises and starts for 
door) Aggie, how many stripes in your flag? 

Damien. (Near door l.) Teacher! (Emily 
drops down to him) Say, I thought mebbe I'd come 
early to-morrow morning and sort o' start the fire 
for you. 

Emily. Oh, thank you so much Damien; but 
have you the time to spare? 

Damien. Oh, yes, I'm goin' to get up at five 
o'clock so as to get the cows done earlier. Good-bye. 

Emily. Good-bye, Damien. (Damien exits; 
Emily turns to Lucius) Well, Lucius, and how 
about you? Are your examples finished? 

Lucius. (Rises and crosses to Emily) Yes'm; 
but I done been terrible rude to the visitor ladies. 

Emily. (Severely) Rude! Why, Lucius Bow- 
man, that was absolutely shocking of you. I'm 
sorry, but I'll have to make you wait fifteen minutes 
longer for that. 

Lucius. (Beaming) Oh, that's all right. 
(Turns hack to his seat) 

Aggie. (Comes doivn-stage to Emily) I was 
rude, too. 

Emily. I'm sorry, Aggie, then you must stay, 
too. 

Andy. (Rising and standing on his bench) I 
was rude too. 



i8 THE LITTLE TEACHER 

Marie. (Rising at the same time) And so was 
I rude, too. 

Emily. {Puzded and mortified) Why, this 
is simply unheard of. I shall never dare leave you 
alone again. You must all stay. 

Children. {Cheerfully) All right! {They all 
start for the windozvs) 

Emily. No, no, children, back to your seats ! 
(They return to their seats. Emily crosses to Mrs. 
Caldweix) I'm so dreadfully mortified that you 
see my chickies at such a disadvantage. I can't im- 
agine what has got into them to-day. 

Mrs. Cald. {Incisively) Miss West, it may not 
be in place to say such a thing, but you've a great 
deal to learn yet. 

Emily. {Gaily) Oh, dear me, Mrs. Caldwell, 
it's ever so much worse than that ! I don't know 
anything about anything. 

Meech. You admit it. 

Emily. Why, of course ! It's perfectly ridicu- 
lous for me to be sitting here in charge of a school. 
{Sits on bench r.) 

Mrs. Cald. {Drily) You talk just like your 
father. 

Emily. {Refusing to see anything in this hut a 
compliment) Oh, it's sweet of you to say that; but 
you're wrong. Nobody ever could talk quite as he 
did. Do you remember my father when he was a 
boy? 

Mrs. Cald. {Coolly) As well as I've any call 
to. 

Emily, That's why I wanted to come back here 
— after I lost him. I felt it would be like coming to 
old friends. 

Mrs. Cald. {Drily) Oh ! 

Emily. You know, I had such funny ideas about 
the country. I pictured myself going to husking 
bees and strawrides and Virginia reels — one ever- 



THE LITTLE TEACHER 19 

lasting carnival ! Real country life is quite differ- 
ent, isn't it? Would you believe it L haven't been 
out of the house one single evening. 

Mrs. Cald. I certainly wouldn't recommend any 
young lady to wander around Goshen Hollow after 
dark ; especially this winter with all those vicious 
lumbermen snooping about. 

Meech. I hope -none of them has accosted you. 

Emily. {Innocently) Oh, yes indeed ! Several. 

Meech. Heavens ! I know I'd faint. 

Emily. {Blandly) Why, they seemed quite 
pleasant and friendly. 

Meech. {Horrified) Friendly, but their morals! 

Emily. {Naive) Oh, have they any? I didn't 
realize. 

Mrs. Cald. {Impressively, as she rises, Meech 
also rises) Miss West, it's my duty to warn you, 
as a young girl, to be on your guard. 

Emily. {With happy assurance; rising) ' Oh, but 
I am, Mrs. Caldwell. Don't worry one bit about 
that. I'm absolutely safe. 

Mrs. Cald. Safe ! You speak as if you had a 
bodyguard. 

Emily. Well, I'll tell you — {Picks up bag from 
bench and is about to open it) No, I don't think 
I had better, after all. Secrets are so much safer 
in the bag than out of it. 

Meech. {As she- goes l.) Mrs. Caldwell, I 
think it's time we were starting along home. All 
this talk about those lumbermen has got me worked 
up. 

Emily. But Mr. Brockway said you'd come on 
an errand. 

Mrs. Cald. We did. {Exchanges a deciding 
look with Meech) We've done it. {Crosses to l.) 

Emily. Oh, I see ! {Comes to c.) 

Mrs. Cald. Well, Miss West, I sincerely wish 



20 THE LITTLE TEACHER 

you success, but I can't say you seem to know much 
about teachin'. 

Emily. Oh, but just look at it this way, Mrs. 
Caldwell — the less you krow, the less you know 
wrong. 

Mrs. Cald. (Sharply) Come, Sabrina! (The 
two women turn toward door) 

(The children rise and stand on benches.) 

Emily. (Crossing to l.) Oh, and do come again, 
both of you ! We shall all be so glad to see you. 
shan't we, children? 

Lucius. No, ma'am. 
Andy, No, ma'am. 

(Aggie and Marie laugh.) 

Meech. Heavens! (The women exit quickly 
and are seen to pass the windows l. to r. in em- 
phatic talk) 

Emily. (Distressed, hut seeing the humor of it) 
Oh dear, oh, dear ! How am I going to punish you 
after this. (Crossing to r., the children following) 
I think I shall just have to pack you off home right 
away without a story. 

Children. Oh no, please. Teacher ! No ! 

Emily. Well, if we have the story, will you 
promise not to be rude the next time we have com- 
pany ? 

Aggie. Yes, ma'am. 

Andy. Yes, we promise. 

Lucius. I won't be rude. 

Marie. I promise. 

Emily. Oh, very well. What shall it be this 
time? (She draws a chair to r. c, the children gath- 
ering about her) 

Aggie. The Ugly Duckling! 



THE LITTLE TEACHER 21 

The Others. Yes, the Ugly Duckling! 

Emily. (With humorous protest) Oh, but that's 
so long! 

Aggie. Then just tell the end; the happy part. 

Emily. All right ; just the happy part. (She sits 
in chair c. Marie l. of her, Andy to r. and a lit- 
tle above her; Lucius r. of Andy and Aggie on the 
floor in front of her) Now where shall I begin? 

Aggie. " At last the long winter was over — " 

Emily. {Making the dramatic values of the old 
wonder-tale stand out) " At last the long winter 
was over ; and the poor Ugly Duckling who had hid- 
den for months in the frozen marsh, felt the warm 
sun again ; and his wings bore him with a new 
courage to the shore of a beautiful lake. And there 
he espied three royal birds with high arching necks, 
floating in the water. " Oh, how wonderful they 
are ! " thought the Ugly Duckling. " Perhaps — ^per- 
haps they will be kind to me. Perhaps they will 
not hate me for being ugly and outcast and hungry." 
So he swam out to the three splendid creatures and 
bowed his head very low and waited, scarcely 
breathing, to see what they would do. There was 
a silence. His heart almost stopped beating. And 
then the fairest of the three birds spoke : " Why do 
you bow your head before us, oh stranger? You 
are the most beautiful of us all." And just then 
the Ugly Duckling saw the reflection of his coun- 
tenance in the surface of the lake ; and what do you 
think ! It was true. He was no longer the Ugly 
Duckling, but a beautiful White Swan. {Little 
gasps of thrilled satisfaction from the children) And 
now shall we say the last sentence of the story to- 
gether, for Fm perfectly sure that you all know it 
by this time. {All say it together) " It matters 
not that you have been born in a duckyard so long 
as you have lain in a swan's ^gg.'' {Pause, then 



22 THE LITTLE TEACHER 

imth impressiT^eness) And that, dear children, is 
the end. 

Andy. (With wistful fervor, looking out front) 
I wish / was a Ugly Duckling ! 

Marie. I wish / was a Ugly Duckling. 

Emily. {Putting her arms about her) Why, 
Marie, I thought you wanted to be Cinderella. 

Marie. I want to be both. 

Emily, Well, who knows ! Sometimes the fairy 
stories are the truest. {Bringing the scene to an 
end) And now, quick ! Scamper. Everybody. Get 
your things and off you go home. 

{The children hurry into the coatroom up r. all ex- 
cept Lucius, who pulls his cap and mittens out- 
of his pocket and is ready to go.) 

Lucius. (Going toward door l.) Good night, 
teacher. 

Emily. Good night, Lucius. 

Lucius. (Confidentially, 'smilingly) And say, 
teacher— (Emily crosses to him) I reckon I'll come 
to school early to-morrow and build the fire for you. 

Emily. Oh, Lucius, I'm so sorry, but Damien has 
offered to do that. If you'd like to help me sweep 
out the room, I'd appreciate it very much. 

Lucius. (Delighted) That'll be all right. Good 
night. 

Emily. Good night, Lucius. (Lucius exits) 

Aggie. (Enters from coatroom wrapped in coat, 
muffler, hood, mittens, leg gins, etc. and comes 
dozvn c.) Good night, teacher. 

Emily, (l. c.) Good night, Aggie. 

Aggie. (With beaming devotion, crossing to 
Emily) And, teacher, p'raps I'll come early to- 
morrow, if I can get the twins done in time, and 
help you sweep out the room. 

Emily. Oh, A.ggie, I'm so sorry, but Lucius has 



THE LITTLE TEACHER 23 

just promised to do that; but if you'd like to wash 
the b'ackboard for me I'd be ever so much obliged. 

Aggie. (Radiantly) AH ..right, teacher, I just 
love doin' chores for you. Good night. 

Emily. Good night, Aggie ! (Aggie exits. 
Andy and Marie, both zvrapped up, enter and come 
dozvn R.) Now chickies, aren't you ready yet? And 
those mittens, Marie. {Helping her on with the mit- 
tens) What's the use of knitting you a pair of red 
mittens if you forget to wear them ? There you are ! 
Good night, Andy. 

Andy. {Crossing to l. with marked reluctance) 
Good night, teacher. 

Emily. {Taking Marie in her arms) Good 
night. Miss Ugly Duckling-Cinderella. 

Marie. {Making an effort) Good ni — {Breaks 
off with a little wail) I don't want to go home. 

Emily. {Petting her) Why, but it's late, dear. 

Marie. {Clinging to Emily in tears) I don't 
want to go home. Please, teacher ! 

Emily. {Troubled and surprised) Why, 
Marie, what's the matter? 

Andy. {Explaining, ots he goes l. c.) She's 
afraid. 

Emily. Afraid? What's she afraid of? 

Marie. Pa. 

Emily. {Still in the dark) What! 

Marie. - {In a subdued, terrified voice) He'll 
lick me ! 

Emily. {Scarcely believing her ears) Why, 
what do you mean! 

Andy. {Coming c.) Pa's drefful strong on the 
lickin' specially when he's drinkin'. I don't mind 
much 'cause I'm most growed up, but she's little. 

Emily. {As she pets Marie) Why, you poor 
babies! I never dreamed of such a thing. 

Marie. {Almost convulsively) Don't make me 
go home, teacher ! 



24 THE LITTLE TEACHER 

Emily. But, Marie, honey, surely your mother 
is kind to you. 

Marie. (With a wail, as she puts her arms about 
Emily's neck) Nobody's kind to us, only you, 
teacher. Don't make me go home. 

Andy. You got to excuse her for bawlin', teacher ; 
she's only six. {Takes Marie's hand) Come along, 
Marie; brace up. Maybe he won't be home to- 
night. {They start for the door l.) 

Marie. I'm sca't. {Runs hack to Emily) 

Andy. No matter. 'T won't be long before I'm 
all growed up — {Puts up his fists as if to fight) — 
and then you'll see if he dares do anything to you! 
(Brockway knocks on the door. Andy runs hack 
to Emily) 

Brockway. {Enters, smiling) I take it for 
granted I can come in. 

Emily. {Eagerly) Oh, do come in. You're the 
very man I want to see. 

Brockway. {Flattered) Well, that's nice. 
{Sees the children) Oh, still keeping the Gresham 
children ? 

Andy. We're going home now. {Takes Marie's 
hand and starts l.) Come along, Marie. 

Emily. {To Brockway, as she follows the chil- 
dren L.) Excuse me just a moment. {Confiden- 
tially to Andy. Brockway goes up-stage c.) Andy, 
I'm going to talk with Mr. Brockway, and I'm sure 
we'll find a way to make things better, so don't 
you worry at all. Good night, both of you. 

Marie. Good night. {The children exit) 

Emily. Mr. Brockway, I'm so anxious about 
those poor youngsters. I've just found out that 
they're being ill treated at home. 

Brockway. {Bored) Yes, yes, I understand. 
Their mother scolds them and their father beats 
them. The old old story. 

Emily. {Cro'ssing to R.) Oh, how could I have 



THE LITTLE TEACHER 25 

missed seeing all these weeks. What can we do, 
Mr. Brock way? 

Brockway. Yes, that's the question; that's the 
question. And experience has taught me' the only 
answer. 

Emily. (Eagerly) What? 

Brockway. Stick to your business of teaching 
school. You've no call to meddle with what goes 
on outside the school yard. 

Emily. (With earnestness) Oh, but I can't stop 
there ! I can't see those babies suffer and not want 
to help them. Surely there's the law ! 

Brockway. (With a contemptuous laugh) The 
law ! It's plain you don't know Goshen Hollow if 
you think the law is likely to help you here. Goshen 
Hollow is a law unto itself. It's proud and it's jeal- 
ous and it's touchy and it's bad. 

Emily. (With fire) Then let's make it better. 

Brockway, Yes! (With a laugh) You're a 
great little mustang, aren't you? 

Emily. Mr. Brockway, just what did you come 
here for? 

Brock. I want to help you. I want to be your 
friend. I want you to feel free to call on me any 
time at all when you need help or advice. I want 
to make your stay here as pleasant and enjoyable as 
possible. You understand? 

Emily. Yes, I think so. Thank you, Mr. Brock- 
way. (Moves up-stage to the window) 

Brock. (Watches her a moment, then turns and 
goes to door l.) Well, I've got several calls to 
make yet this afternoon so I guess I'll be getting 
along. You wouldn't like to take a little sleigh- 
ride, would you? My cutter is out here now. 

Emily. I'm thinking about those children. 

Brock. All right. Miss West. Well, remember, 
just call on me for anything any time. You'll find 
me a good fellow and a very easy man to get along 



26 THE LITTLE TEACHER 

with if I'm not antagonized. Good afternoon! (A 
loud groan is heard outside, followed by confused 
shouting. Brock way goes up to ivindow) What's 
that? 

VoTCE. (Off-stage) Hi, look out! What you 
doin' there ! 

Second Voice. I know what I'm doin'. 

Emily. There's some trouble. 

Brock. A lumberman. 

Emily. Someone's been hurt. 

Voice. {Off-stage) Run like hell and bring the 
sledge. It's over to Boudreau's. 

Second Voice. (Shouting from afar) I'll be 
after comin' with it in ten minutes. 

Brock. He's going to bring him in here. (Start- 
ing for the door) He can't do that. 

Emily. (Running dozvn to door l.) Oh, yes he 
can. This is just the place. (Opens the door and 
hacks azvay a few steps as Pug enters, carrying 
Batiste over his shoulder) Oh, bring him in 
right away. That's it ! Is he hurt ? ^ 

Pug. Seems to think he is. I don't see how he 
can be. He's as limp as a drownded rat. What'll I 
do with him? 

Emily. Bring him over here. (Crosses and 
pulls the bench standing against r. wall over to 
r. c.) Lay him down carefully now. (Pug places 
the unconscioiis Batiste on the bench) That's it 
— carefully — carefully. Hold up his head till I get 
something for it. (Gets dictionary from desk and 
ptits it under his head) There! That's better. 
Take off his cap. 

(Pug follows directions,) 

Brock. Is there any way I can be of assistance ? 
Emily. Yes, put some wood in the stove. 
Brock. Certainly. (Goes up to stove l. and puts 
on some wood) 



THE LITTLE TEACHER 27 

Emily. (To Fvg, who is above the bench) What 
haoDened to him? 

Pug. (With simple frankness) Got hit, Miss. 

Emily. How? 

Pug. (Wishinn to be frank, but finding it hard 
to express himself satisfactorily) Ye see^ — some- 
body hit him. 

Emily. Hit him where? 

Pug. SiUy plexus must have been. 

Emily. T thought so. (Kneels in front of Ba- 
tiste, opens his coat and lays her ear against his 
chest) 

Pug. (Embarrassed and anxious) Er — how is 
it? (Pause) Not — say, it's not- 

Emily. Feeble and irregular. 

Pug. Yes, but — but qoin'f 

Emily.. Yes, s^oing, just going. See if the wat- 
er's hot. (Indicates kettle on top of the stove. 
She unbuttons Batiste's shirt, opens it wide and 
explores the surface of his undershirt carefully) 

Pug. Yes'm. (Goes up to stove and tests the 
water in the kettle) Owch! Kripe, that's hot! 

Emily. Good, we need it hot. You'll find a 
couple of fresh towels there in the coat room — and 
a basin. 

Pug. Yes'm. (Exits r.) 

Brck. (Coming dozvn l.) I didn't realize we 
had a first-aid specialist in Goshen Hollow. 

Emily. Oh, yes, I nursed my father for four 
years. 

Brock. Well, I guess Ell be getting along home. 
Good-bye, Miss West. 

Emily. (Shortly) Good-bye. 

(Brockw AY exits h.) 

Pug. (Re-enters and coming down r. zvith towels 
and basin) Are these the towels? 



2S THE LITTLE TEACHER 

Emily. Yes. (Halted suddenly by some detail 
of her explorations) Um ! (Bends more intently 
over Batiste) 

Pug. (Anxiously) Any s-ats stove in? 

Emily. (Taking towels and basin. Puts them on 
table c.) No. I don't th!nk so. We must give him 
some fomentations. (Going up toward the stove) 

Pug. Fomen — What! Is it as bad as that? 

Emily. (Bringing the kettle down to table) Of 
course everybody will tell you to chafe their wrists 
the first thing, but that's' perfect nonsense. Still, 
if you want to chafe his wrists, you can. (Pouring 
zvater over the towel) 

Pug. {Defiant) I don't want to chafe his 
wrists. 

Emily. (Taking kettle back to the stove) Then 
open his shirt as wide as you can over his chest. 
(Comes back and prepared the towel) 

Pug. (Leaning over Batiste) Say, Batiste, it's 
one great day for the Canucks ! Wait till you get 
on to what's comin' to you. 

Emily. (Coming to Batiste with the towel and 
observing a red spot on his chest) That's where 
the blow struck him. Oh, it must have been ter- 
ribly hard. (Places the towel on his chest) 

Pug. I guess it was. 

Emily. It might have killed him. 

Pug. (Incredulous and anxious) Oh, no, not 
kill him. I wouldn't believe that. 

Emily. Well, it's true. That blow was delivered 
with scientific precision just at the vital spot. What 
a shameful, fiendish thing to do ; to strike a man 
like that. Who did it ? 

Pug. Eh? 

Emily. Who did it? 

Pug. (Hesitating, then with boy-like simplicity 
and candor) Me. 

Emily. (Horrified) You! 



THE LITTLE TEACHER 29 

Pug. {Simply, but not zvith anv guiltv shame) 
Yes'm. 

Emily. (Accusingly, breathlessly) You stand 
there and tell me that you struck him! 

Pug. Well, that's what I said. 

Emily. But — but zvhy! What possible reason 
could you have had? 

Pug. The reason was — well he got my goat. 

Emily. That's no reason at all. 

Pug. It was reason enough for me. 

Emily. What do you mean? 

Pug. Well, that's the kind of a guy I am. Any- 
body gets my goat I'm liable to get rough with them. 

Emily. You mean to tell me that's all the reason 
you had for doing this thing ? 

Pug. Well, yes, in a way. 

Emily. (Furious) Why, that's perfectly abom- 
inable. You ought to be ashamed of yourself — a 
big, grown-up man like you ! Why, I never heard 
of such a thing in my life. (Indicating the towel) 
Here, hold this! (As he starts to take the towel) 
No, this way. (Pug holds the towel as directed) 
I must fix another towel for the poor fellow. 
(Busies herself fixing another towel. Batiste 
stirs) 

Pug. Look, he's beginnin' to come to, the cute 
little sucker ! 

Emily. I don't see why that should please you 
— you tried to kill him. 

Pug. Oh, come now, Miss, if I'd tried to kill 
him I'd a done it. (To Batiste, whose eyes have 
flickered open and shut several times) Decided 
you'd come back to us again, did you, Frenchy? 
Take it easy now. Easy ! 

Batiste. (Slozvly rising to a sitting position) 
Sacre nom d'un chien! 

Pug. (Laughing) Say, do you know what that 
means? Sacre nom d'un chien? 



30 THE LITTLE TEACHER 

Emily (Still zvith severe manner) No. 

Pug. Sacred name of a dog. Ain't it comic how 
Canucks cuss? Not like me or you. Why the 
do<T? Do it again, Frenchy so she can hear you. 

Emily. {Coming down to the bench) Take that 
off. 

Pug. Yes ma'am. (Removed the towel and 
backs away a.y Emily applies the new one) 

Emily. There, that'll make you feel better, I'm 
sure. 

Batiste. (Sittings and holding the toufel on 
zvith both hands) Ou que je suis? 

Pug. That means where be I ? Ain't Canuck 
comic? 

Emily. (Severely) Not in the least. (Mother- 
ingly, to Batiste) Just keep very still now and 
don't bother about anything for a few moments. 
You're being looked out for. (Sits l. of him) 

Batiste. (Staring at her) Who be you? 

Pug. That's her. 

Batiste. Not the li'l school teacher ! 

Emily. Certainly. 

Pug. She brought you to. 
■ Emily. But don't talk ; keep still. 

Batiste. (Looks up at Pug) Then I take back 
all what I sayed. 

Emily. Why, but you didn't say anything. 

Batiste. Yes, but I did say something, lady. 
(Indicating Pug) Him there, he know. 

Pug. Oh, shut up ! 

Batiste. This afternoon — out there in the woods 
—I calls you wan name — not pretty, non. Mon 
Dieu, how quick he punch me — like dot ! (Indicat- 
ing the gasp of one having his wind knocked out) 
I think me dead, sure. 

(Emily rises.) 
Pug. (Embarrassed) Say, don't be blabber like 



THE LITTLE TEACHER 31 

a phonograph? That record's wore out, Frenchy. 
We've heard enough, see? 

Emily. {To Pug) Oh, but why didn't you tell 
me the reason? (Pug is too embarrassed to an- 
swer) 

Batiste. I pray the Blessed Vierge forgive me 
for that bad word what I spake. Mad'm'selle is 
wan angel of heaven. 

Emily. Far from it, my friend. I'm a very blind 
and very stupid girl. {To Pug) And I beg your 
pardon. 

(Pug is too embarrassed to reply.) 

Batiste. But then you see, lady, I never seen 
you C'Ose ; and him there, he seen you close every 
day — very close. Sometimes one, two, three time. 

Emily. {To Pug) You had ! 

Pug. {Impatiently, to Batiste) Oh, lay down. 

Emily. But where had you seen me? 

Batiste. Every day he go watch some place 
to see you go to school, and again he go watch some 
place to see you come from school. He do this 
every day. 

Pug. {Forcing Batiste down on the bench) 
Oh, lay down. Rover.. 

Batiste. {Meekly) Oui. 

Pug. {After an embarrassed pause) The sledge 
is coming. {Goes up to window) Yep, the sledge 
is coming. {Comes downstage again) 

Emily. Yes. 

{Night is falling fast. Sleigh bells are heard grow- 
ing louder and nearer.) 

Pug. {Helping Batiste to his feet) Well,. 
Frenchy, ready to try some footwork? Take her 
easy now ! Up-to-daydy ! 



Z2. THE LITTLE TEACHER 

Batiste. (Swaying dizzily) Mon dieu, but I 
feel les vertiges like hell ! 

Pug. Now, now old Scouty, don't get peevish. 
Wait till we get you back to camp and pour some 
nice firewater down your feeding tube. 

Emily. {Coming down l. to Batiste) Oh, no, 
please. 

Pug. Why, but that's what he lives on ma'am. 

Emily. Not to-night. It would be the very 
worst thing. 

Pug. You're the boss. 

Emily. Make him some hot coffee ; as hot as he 
can drink it. And wait a minute. {Gets her hag 
from c. bench and takes out medicine case) If he 
seems exhausted when you get him back to camp 
give him two of these with a little water. {Puts 
two tablets in Pug's palm) Perhaps he'd better 
have one now. {To Pug) Oh, light the lantern, 
please. 

Pug. Yes'm. {As he lights the lantern on desk) 
Say, I never could make out what you carried in 
that there bag, though I always cops it on your arm 
wherever you goes. 

Emily. Oh, that's my family grab-bag; knitting 
and books and medicines and secrets and, oh, all 
sorts of things. Bring the dipper, please. {To 
Batiste) Put out your tongue. {She puts the 
powder on his tongue; Pug comes down with the 
water) Now give him some water. (Batiste 
sputters) 

Pug. He don't know what to do with water. 

(The sleigh bells are loud now, but suddenly cease 
and a ''Whoa'' is heard, then a voice.) 

Voice. {Off-stage) Hello, there! 
Pug. {Shouting) Comin' Jakey. {Helping Ba- 
tiste to his feet) Come on, Frenchy. 



i 



THE LITTLE TEACHER 33 

Emily. (Handing Pug the tablets) And give 
him them when you get back to camp. 

Pug. One foot after the other now ! That's the 
trick. (Over to door l.) One, two, one, two, one, 
two. 

Emily. (Folloiving them over to l.) Oh, and 
do let me know how he gets along. 

Pug. Say, do you mean it? 

Emily. Oh, please. The very first minute you 
can. 

Pug. Sure as you're livin'. To-night. 

Emily. Do you know where my boarding place 
is? 

Batiste. (With humor) No need to axe if he 
know dat. And he know what hour each night out 
go your candle, by God ! 

Pug. (With grim comment) March, you Ca- 
nuck, march ! One foot after the other now ! 
(Marches him off l. ; his voice is heard off-stage) 
One, two, one, two ; one, two ; and I've a good mind 
to roll you in the snow till there's a plug in your mug, 
see ! 

(Voices are heard distinctly as the men are getting 
into the sledge. Emily has shut the door and 
now goes to the window and watches what is 
going on outside. A " Get-up " is heard. There 
is a jangling of bells which grow fainter and 
fainter, then silence. Emily watches dreamily. 
At last she leaves the window and humming 
to herself, puts the bench back in place r., re- 
moves towels and -basin, puts medicine case 
back in her bag, then goes up to her desk and 
puts on her hat and coat. As she picks up the 
lantern and is crossing to door l. rapid little 
steps are heard off l. There is a wild chatter 
of frightened child voices and a frantic beating 
of little hands on the door. Emily instantly} 



34 THE LITTLE TEACHER 

puts down the lantern and opens the door. 
Andy and Marie run in, panic-stricken.) 

Andy and Marie. Teacher, Teacher, open the 
door ! Let us in, quick, quick ! 

Marie. {Running over r. c. with Andy, the two 
clinging to each other in terror) Oh, teacher, 
teacher, he's after us. 

Emily. {Coming to r. c. with them) Why, 
chickies, chickies, what is it? 

Andy and Marie. {In an incoherent babble of 
terror) He's after us ! We runned all the way — 
and I felled down in the snow — and he almost 
caught us — and teacher, teacher, teacher ! ! 

Emily. {Trying to quiet them) Andy, tell me; 
what is it ? 

Andy. {Breathless with terror) Pa ! He's after 
us. He's coming! 

Emily. {Quickly getting them off into the coat- 
room) Don't be afaid. Just go in there into the 
coatroom. 

Andy. And we ran all the way and I fell down 
in the snow — and if he catches us he'll kill us. 

Emily. {Talking to them until they are into the 
coatroom) Just go in there. It's all right! No 
one shall hurt you! (Emily closes the door after 
them and goes up to her desk. She slips her hand 
into her bag and grips the revolver. In a few sec- 
onds Gresham enters l.) 

Gresham. {Ferocious, after a short 'silence) 
Where are those kids. Where are they ! What have 
you done with them. {Paiuse) Come on now, don't 
get funny with me. I want those kids and I'm not 
a-goin' to wait for 'em ! 

Emily. You shan't have them. 

Gresham. Oh, I shan't, eh! And what have 
you got to say about it! 

Emily. I'm their teacher. 



THE LITTLE TEACHER 35 

Gresham. Well, rm their father. Now you 
give 'em to me quick, or by God I'll not leave an 
inch of their hide on 'em ! Where are they ! Where 
are they ! I know where they are. They're in that 
room. Now you bring 'em out or by God I'll go in 
there and get 'em ! (Pause, then he starts for the 
coatroom. Emily picks up the pistol, aims at the 
floor and fires. Gresham recoils. Andy and Marie 
run in from the coatroom) 

Andy and Marie. Teacher, teacher. 

Emily. There, there, darlings! (To Gresham, 
still pointing the gun at him) This is an old fash- 
ioned revolver that belonged to my father and I just 
wanted to show you that it was loaded. And here's 
something you can put away in your mind, you big 
ruffian! Don't you ever lay your hand on one of 
these little children again or you'll pay for it. You 
call yourself a man. You beast. You drunken 
beast. And I'll tell you another thing. This pistol 
goes home with me and so do these two babies. 
Now get out. (Gresham retreats toward the door) 
I said get out. 

Gresham. Those are my kids; they belong to 
me and I'm a-goin' to get 'em. You understand. 
I'm a-goin' to get 'em. (Exits with a snarl. Emily 
comes down from the platform, goes to the window 
watching for Gresham to pass. The children run 
to her) 

Andy. (Excitedly) Oh, teacher, are we going 
home with you ? 

Emily. Of course you're going home with me. 

Marie. And can we stay with you always? 

Emily. Yes, dear ! I'm not going to let anyone 
hurt you. (She keeps on talking cheerily to the 
children, while Gresham is seen parsing the win- 
dow, her pistol covering him) And, Marie, those 
little mittens. Put them on again. It would never 
do to let Jack Frost get a nip at those fingers to- 



36 THE LITTLE TEACHER 

night. And you know what a long way it is up to 
Mrs. Hodges — through the woods and across the 
bridge and up that long hill in the sno 



ACT H 



Scene : Living room at Mrs. Hodges. An old 
fashioned living room in a country home. The 
scene is painted in the pattern of an old style 
wall paper. Down left fireplace and mantle. Up 
left door leading out on porch zvith pillars and 
balustrade. At center large practical hay zvin- 
dow and windozv seat. Up right door leading 
off to kitchen, backing for door. Just below 
door stairway, about five steps up to platform 
leading to second floor of the house. The same 
drop and wings are used to back window that 
zvere used in Act I, hut a ground row of an 
old rail fence, snow-covered, runs along in front 
of drop. 

Discovered : At rise of curtain supper is in prog- 
ress. Five persons are seated at the table. 
Emily c. with Marie r. and Andy l. of her. 
Mrs. Hodges r. of Marie and Zekel {the hired 
man) l. gf Andy. 

Emily. {Finishing her story as the curtain rises) 
— and so that, my dear children, is the reason why 
we eat fried potatoes with a fork and apple sauce 
with a spoon: and what I have told you is just as 
true as that the moon is made of Roquefort cheese. 
Now eat ! 

{They eat with assiduity.) 



THE LITTLE TEACHER 37 

Zekel. (Gruffly) Bread! 

Emily. (Pleasantly) With pleasure, Zekel. 
(Passes the bread to him, and he snaps a piece from 
the plate) 

Andy. (Absorbed in his supper) Tastes awful 
good! 

Emily. (With a certain humorous dignity of 
manner) You may well say so. Mrs. Hodges has 
taken six prizes for her cooking at the Bennington 
fair. 

Mrs. Hodges. (Grimly) And two honorable 
mentions which ought to of ben prizes. 

Zekel. Butter ! 

Emily. Oh, how stupid ! Excuse me. (Passes 
him the butter) 

Zekel. (Testily) Excuse you. Why for? 

Emily. (Blandly) For not noticing, Zekel. 

Zekel. (Drily) Never heard yet it was any of 
your business to notice my business. 

Emily. (Smilingly, to the children) Observe, 
children, Zekel hates to make any trouble for other 
people. 

Andy. Please, is he the hired man? 

Emily. He is, Andy ; and probably the best hired 
man in the whole world. 

Zekel. Huh! (Thrusting out his saucer) Ap- 
ple sauce ! 

Emily. Delighted. (Renews his helping with 
quiet good humor and amusement) 

Andy. (Counting, as Emily helps Zekel) One, 
two, three! Please can I have some more apple 
sauce ? 

Emily. What do you think, Mrs. Hodges? 

Mrs. Hodges. (Curtly) My land, don't ask me 
what he can have ! I didn't fetch him here. 

Emily. (With pleasant, unperturbed manner) 
But I'm so inexperienced bringing up children. 

Mrs. Hodges. (Grimly) Well, there ain't been 



38 THE LITTLE TEACHER 

a child in this house for thirty years past. It's a 
set rule. 

Emily. (Blithely) Just think, chiMren ; you are 
the first exception to that set ru^e. You may cer- 
tainly have a second he-ping to celebrate. 

Marie and Andy. Oh, goody! (They thrust 
out their saucers eagerly) 

Mrs. Hodges. It'll give 'em stomach-ache. 

Andy. {With fervor) I like stomach-ache. 

Emily. That's lucky, for you'll most certainly 
have it. There! {Renews their helpings, and picks 
tip a pie. Mrs. Hodges rises) And just look, chil- 
dren, at the wonderful pumpkin pie Mrs. Hodges 
made to-day. 

Mrs. Hodges. {Takes the pie from Emily) 
Well, about that pie ; I was figurin' mebby I wouldn't 
cut into it to-night. Punkin pies improve if you 
keep 'em a day or two in the buttery. {Goes up to- 
ward the door) 

Andy. Oh, but we wanted some ! 

Emily. Hush, my boy. I'm sure you've no room 
left for pie. {Laughingly feeling of his coat hut- 
tons) Why, you're just as tight as you can be all 
the way up to there ! 

Mrs. Hodges. {Turning at exit) Zekel, you 
didn't want no pie, did you? 

Zekel. Not till bed time. 

Mrs. Hodges. Miss West? 

Emily. {Smilingly) So kind, but I really 
couldn't. 

(Mrs. Hodges exits into the kitchen.) 

Andy. {Wistfully follozving her with hii eyes) 
Teacher, don't she like us? 

Emily. {Cheerfully) Like you, Andy? How 
could anyone help liking you? 

Zekel. {Drily) She could. Her and me are 



THE LITTLE TEACHER 39 

alike about a number of things. Neither on us 
likes cats and neither on us Hkes sparrowgrass. 

Emily. Well, Zekel, you may never come to like 
sparrowgrass or cats, but before we of this present 
company are done with you, you'll like us, won't 
he, children? 

Zekel. (Drily as he rises) Huh ! Mighty sure 
of yourself, ain't you? {Leaving the table, sham- 
bles down L., sits in easy chair and takes out his 
pipe) 

Emily. (Gayly mysterious) Listen, young ones, 
I've thought of a new game. It's called Seduction, 
and we play it with Uncle Zekel every evening. 

Marie. Oh, how ? 

Emily. Well, to begin with, we sit in absolute 
silence while he lights his pipe, because that's a sa- 
cred moment. 

Zekel. (Sits watching them until the match 
burns his fingers. The three at the table laugh) 
Oh, shucks ! 

Emily. (Gayly apologetic) Oh, dear, I was 
talking and that spoiled it. Now this time ! (En- 
joins silence, but continues in a thrilling whisper) 
See how he reaches for another match ! Now he's 
going to strike it. Now he carries it carefully, 
very carefully to his pipe. (Sings) Oh, there was 
an old man and he had a wooden leg. 
And he had no tobacco, no tobacco could be beg. 
There was another old man was as cunning as a fox, 
And he had plenty of tobacco in his old tobacco 
box." (Emily and the children laugh) 

Zekel. (Laughing in spite of himself) That's 
a good old song. Always did like it. 

Emily. (Laughing) I knew we'd make him 
laugh. 

Zekel. Oh, quit! 

Mrs. Hodges. (Enters and comes down r. of 
table) When them children have finished they 



40 THE LITTLE TEACHER 

can get down. (Puts tray for dishes on the table) 

Emily. (Rising) Oh, thank you for reminding 
me, Mrs. Hodges. Have you finished, Andy? 

Andy. Yes, ma'am. (Pulls off his napkin and 
gets down) 

Marie. (Takes off her napkin and stands up in 
her chair) So have I finished. 

Emily. Then for the napkin ! ( Unpins the nap- 
kin and picks the child up in her arms) 

Marie. Can I have a supper Hke that every 
night ? 

Emily. Every night when you're good. 

Marie. What can I have when I'm bad? 

Emily. Just the same. (Puts her on couch l.) 
Over you go ! And now sit there as still as a little 
mouse ! Not a wiggle now. Not a peep. And, 
Andy, you get up and sit beside her. 

Andy. (Getting up on the couch r. of Marie) 
But what are you going to do? 

Emily. (Crossing to the table) I'm going to 
make myself useful, if possible. (Begins ^stacking 
the dishes together) 

Mrs. Hodges. (Who is already clearing the ta- 
ble) I'm quit6 capable o' doin' this chore alone, 
Miss West. 

Emily. (Refusing to see the intended snub) I 
know, dear, but I hope I'm capable of doing it with 
you. 

Zekel. (Drily) Jedgin' by the signs, Miss West, 
you're capable of most anything. 

Emily. (With smiling irony) Take care, Zekel, 
you'll turn my head. 

Zekel. (Drily) Well, turn it a little more and 
it might come round straight. 

(Emily laughs.) 

Andy. (Solemnly) Teacher! 



THE LITTLE TEACHER 41 

Emily. Yes, my child? 

Andy. Is this being good enough? 

Emily. {Ready to carry out a pile of dishes) 
I don't see how it could possibly be improved on. 
Now don't move hand or foot until I return. (Exits 
tip R. The children sit very straight and solemn) 

Zekel. (Indicating the children with a wag of 
his thnmh) Trouble comin'. 

Mrs. Hodges. (With an outbreak of pent-up 
resentment) Comin'! My land, Zekel, I'd say 
'twas here — and more to foller. 

Zekel. (Shaking his head) 'Twon't take long 
to follow, neither. 

Mrs. Hodges. (Grimly) Unless, perhaps, I 
don't give it no chance to foller. 

Zekel. Now's the time to put your foot down. 

Andy. (Pointing to the parlor organ down-stage 
R.) Please ma'am, what's that? : 

Mrs. Hodges. My land, boy, ain't you never 
seen a organ? 

Andy. No, ma'am. What'll it do? 

Mrs. Hodges. Make music. 

Andy. Nice music? 

Mrs. Hodges. What other kind be they ? 

Andy. Please will you make it make some? 

Mrs. Hodges. (With unaccountable resentment) 
Me! That organ's ben shut and locked for thirty 
years, but the first week she was here Miss West 
went to work and teased for the key, and now there 
ain't no shutting it. (Exits into the kitchen) 

(Zekel rises and goes up r. of the children on the 

sofa.) 

Andy. (Wistfully) Mr. Zekel, don't you think 
she'll hke us some day if we're as good as all this? 

Zekel. W^ell, I don't know. Never took no 
great stock in miracles. (Shakes his head as he 



42 THE LITTLE TEACHER 

goes up to the door, the children following him 
with their eyes. He exits still shaking his head 
doubt fully) 

Marie. {Turning to Andy, depressed) Andy, 
what's miracles? 

Andy. Something else he don't Hke. 

Marie. Do you think the old lady will send us 
back home? 

Andy. Teacher won't let her. {To Emily, who 
re— enters) Teacher, you won't let the lady send us 
back, will you? 

Emily.. {Cheerily, as she comes down above 
the couch) Well, I should say not ! Are you happy? 

Andy. I'm happy. Are you happy, Marie? 

Marie. I'm happy. Are you happy, teacher? 

Emily. 'Deed I'm happy. I don't remember a 
day of my life when I was as happy as I am to- 
night. 

Marie. Tell us about the Ugly Duckling. 

Emily. You little silly. You heard about him 
this very afternoon. {Puts table cloth on the table) 

Andy. And was he happy, too? 

Emily. For ever and ever and ever. 

Andy. And did he have an angel come to see 
him every night? 

Emily. An angel ! 

Andy. {Confidently) I have an angel comes 
ever so often when I'm fast asleep. 

Emily. {Still more astonished) What! 

Andy. Teacher, don't angels have kind of soft 
brown eyes? 

Emily. {At a loss what to answer) Well, per- 
haps ; I'm not sure. 

Andy. And they come and smile at you a long 
time and don't say anything, and then just when 
you're going to speak, you wake up. Teacher, 
don't you think it's an angel — a real angel? 

Emily. {Over to above the sofa) I suppose 



THE LITTLE TEACHER - 43 

some people would think it was just a dream. 

Andy. Oh, but it isn't a dream — it's real. 

Marie. (Looking out front) And it's always 
the same angel ; and dressed so bootif ul ! 
^ Andy. But not any wings. 

Marie. Don't you wish an angel wo^ld come 
and see yoti, teacher? 

Emily. I think I shall be perfectly happy just 
with you. And now, what if I should put you to 
bed? 

Andy. (Jumping upon the sofa, Marie follow- 
ing suit) Oh ! And will you put us to bed? 

Emily. Of course I will ! 

Marie. And will you tell us a story? 

Emily. Certainly. What's the fun of going to 
bed if you can't have a story 'and a candle? You 
might just as well sit up all night. (To Mrs. 
Hodces, 7vho re-enters and comes above c. table) 
Oh, Mrs. Hodges, I'm going to put these youngsters 
into my bed till I find just the right place for them. 
(Crossing to R. with the children. Marie and Andy 
go to foot of stairs ; Emily to organ) 

Mrs. Hodges. I advise ye to give 'em a good 
scrub first. 

Emily. (Taking candle from the organ and light- 
ing it) That's been attended to; and I've taken a 
tuck in my nighties for them. (To Andy and 
Marie) Now say good-night to Grandma Hodges, 
chickies. 

Marie and Andy. Good-night. 

Emily. (Correcting them) '* Grandma Hodges." 

Andy and Marie. Grandma Hodges. 

Mrs. Hodges. ( With a sudden choke of emotion, 
which she stifles) I ain't your Grandma. 

Emily. Oh, yes you are ! We've adopted you. 

Mrs. LIodges. (Dominating an impulse of affec- 
tion toward the children and in the effort, evincing a 



44 THE LITTLE TEACHER 

doubly ferce hostility; almost fear) Take — 'em — • 
away. 

Emily. {Brightly, to the children) March! 
( The three march up the stairs singing : '^ There was 
an old man and he had a zvooden leg.") 

(Brock WAY knocks on l. door.) 

Mrs. Hodges. Come in. (Brock way enters) 
Good evenin', Mr. Brockway. 

Brockway. Good evening, Mrs. Hodges. I 
ca^-ed to see Miss West. 

Mrs. Hodges. Set down. F'l speak to her. 
(Crosses to stairs and calls) Miss West! Miss 
West! 

(Brockway removes his coat and hat and hangs 
them on rack upstage l.) 

Emily. {From above) What is it, Mrs. Hodges? 

Mrs. Hodges. Mr. Brockway. 

Emily. {In cordial tones) How nice! I'll be 
right down. 

Mrs. Hodges. {Coming hack of table) Do you 
know what she's went to work and done ? 

Brockway. Yes, and it's a serious matter. You 
gave her permission to bring those children herer 

Mrs. Hodges. {Harshly) Permission ! She 
simply walked in on me with her passel o' young- 
sters all smiling and pleased with herself as if she 
was givin' a party. 

Emily. {Entering from the stairs zvith a hit of 
sezving in her hands, and coming to c. in her breez- 
iest manner. Brockway crosses to her; they shake 
hands) It was awfully kind of you to run over 
so promptly, Mr. Brockway. You're going to help 
me. I can tell ! 

Mrs. Hodges. {Back of the table) Goin' to 



THE LITTLE TEACHER 45 

help ye use a little common sense, p'raps. 

Emily. (With ingenuous manner) Oh, I hope 
so. Children are such a problem, aren't they? Es- 
pecially when you have them so unexpectedly. 

Mrs. Hodges. (Shocked) Well, my land! 

Emily. {Crossing to c.) You've no idea how- 
helpless and puzzled I feel! {Turning to Brock- 
way) Do you suppose I ought to have them 
vacc'nated? 

Brock. {Down r.) See here, Miss West, this 
is serious. May I ask for your attention? 

Emily. {As if conversing with an old trusted 
friend^ I'll do the very best I can. but one's first 
day of being a mother is so dreadfully thrilling. 
But, of course. Mrs. Hodges, a man couldn't possi- 
bly understand that, could he? {Crosses and sits 
on sofa L.) 

Mrs. Hodges. Well, I give you up! {Exits into 
the kitchen) 

Brock. {Crossing up-stage and to R. of Emily) 
Miss West, I presume you realize that you have 
no claim whatever on those children. 

Emily. But, Mr. Brockway, children must have 
a mother ; no one would deny that. 

Brock. Those children have both a father and 
a mother already. 

Emily. Dear, dear, I've lost my thread. {Re- 
threads her needle) A mother who hates and 
abuses them isn't a mother ; and a father who beats 
them isn't a father. 

Brock. {With sharp irritation) How do you 
know he beats them? 

Emily. Will you tell me where Andy got the 
purple welts all up and down his poor little back? 

Brock. {Vexed, but as'suming all the dignity he 
can) Well, if the home conditions are bad an ef- 
fort should be made to better them. However, in 
taking physical possession of the children you have 



46 THE LITTLE TEACHER 

exceeded your authority as teacher, and the school 
committee cannot stand behind you. 

Emily. (With quiet, 'smiling, sureness) When 
I'm doing right, Mr. Brockway, I can't possibly 
worry about the school committee. 

Mrs. Hodges. (Enter from the kitchen, followed 
by Damien) She's in here; you can come in. 

(Brockway moves up-stage to the window.) 

Damien. (Coming down to Emily in cap and 
mittens) Oh. teacher, be vou here. 

Emily. (On the sofa; Mrs. Hodges tip back of 
table c.) Why, Damien, what is it? 

Damien. (Incoherently) Pa says you'd better 
send them kids back to Gresham's if you know 
what's good for you 'cause he says Bert Gresham's 
a dretful per'lous man and pay says, s'z he there's 
no tellin' what he mightn't do to anybody that riled 
him and pay says s'z he if the new teacher sets any 
valler on a whole skin she won't go to work and 
tread on no snakes and oh teacher I run all the 
way from home to tell ye ! 

(Mrs. Hodges comes down r. of c. table.) 

Emily. (Rising and taking the boy's hands reas- 
suringly) Damien, I think that was fine and loyal 
of you, and I thank you so much. It means a lot 
to have friends. 

Damien. And pa says sz' he if you don't send 'em 
back quick it's certain Bert Gresham'll come and 
take 'em and not stop at nothin' short of murder 
neither. 

Emily. I'm not afraid of anything Bert Gresham 
can do to me, Damien. 

Damien. You don't mean you're a-goin' to keep 
'em ! 



THE LITTLE TEACHER 47 

Emily. Why certainly I'm going to keep them. 

Damien. Yes, but 

Emily. (Going up-stage l. with him) So don't 
worry any more about me, Damien, because every- 
thing is going to come out all right. 

Damien. But pa says s'z he 

Emily. I know he does; but that doesn't bother 
me either. Good-night Damien. 

Damien. (Open-mouthed with admiration) 
Gosh ! .Say. I never knew a woman cou'd have nerve 
like that. Gee, teacher, you're all right ! (Exits l.) 

Emily. (Turning smilingly to Brockw ay) And 
now I know you'll excuse me, Mr. Brockway, if I 
run up to my children again. (Crossing to R. 
stairs) 

Brock. (Sharply, as he comes down l. below 
table c.) Now, Miss West, for the last time, don't 
be ridiculous. 

Emily. (At foot of stairs) Now, Mr. Brock- 
way, I'm a mighty easy girl to get along with if I'm 
not antagonized. Booh ! (Runs up the stairs and 

off R.) 

Brock. (As he crosses to foot of stairs) Well, 
I certainly can't hold myself responsible for any- 
thing that happens after this. 

Mrs. Hodges. (With an outbreak, as she fol- 
lows him r.) Oh, that's easy for you to say, Neal 
Brockway, livin' safe and free in North Goshen, 
but how about mef I live here in Goshen Hollow, 
and it's my house, up there in my best bedroom, 
she's stowin' her stolen goods. 

Brock. You don't need to permit it unless you 
choose. 

Mrs. Hodges. I don't choose, and I don't intend 
to permit it. (Pug knocks on the door. He enters 
and comes to l. of table c. Brockway drops down 
R.) My land! 

Pug. Is she home? 



48 THE LITTLE TEACHER 

Mrs. Hodges, (r. of c. table) Who? 

Pug. Miss West. 

Mrs. Hodges. What do you want ? 

Pug. (Good humor edly) To see her. 

Batiste. {Enters, grinning, and comes dozvn 
below sofa l.) Bon soir. 

Mrs. Hodges. My land, there's two on 'em! 

Pug. She wanted to see me. 

Mrs. Hodges. What! (Pug nods affirmatively) 
Wanted to see you. 

Pug. (Blandly) That's what I said. Will ye 
tell her? (Affably, to Brockway) She don't seem 
to .s^et it. 

Brockway. (Conde'scendingly, as he crosses to 
Pug) Do you mean to say Miss West invited you 
to come here ! 

Pug. Sure. Did she invite you? 

Brockway. (Goes up l. and gets his hat and coat 
from the rack, then turns toward Pug) Good- 
night ! (Exits L. Pug drops down-stage a bit) 

Batiste. (To Brockway) Good-night. 

Mrs. Hodges. (To Pug, with hostile manner) 
Who'll I say? 

Pug. No matter, she don't know my name. 
(Drops down l.) 

Mrs. Hodges. Don't know your name ! 

Pug. You got me the first time, ma'am. 

Mrs. Hodges. (Defiantly) Then what will I 
say? 

Pug. Oh, hell, say anything — only say it. 

Mrs. Hodges. (Crosses and yells up the staifs) 
Miss West. You can come down ! 

Pug. Do you think that'll fetch her ? 

Mrs. Hoodges. My land, how can I tell! 
(Flounces out into the kitchen) 

(Batiste sits on the sofa.) 



THE LITTLE TEACHER 49 

Pug. (Watches Batiste a moment, then sits'R. 
of him) Now remember, Batiste, you wasn't in- 
vited to come here — I was. 

(Batiste holds himself very stiff, looking straight 

front.) 

Batiste. (Smilinq contentedly) Oui. 

Pug. {After a slight pause) I only lets you in 
on this because I'm a nice obligin' feller and hates 
to say no to ye, see? 

Batiste. Oui. 

Fug. (After a slight pause) And get this: 
You're not to tarry. 

Batiste. Oui. 

Pug. Just thank the lady for savin' yer life and 
then beat it. 

Batiste. Oui. {Both sit in awkward silence 
looking straight ahead for a fezv seconds) 

Pug. And make this : no rough stuff — she's a 
lady! 

Batiste. {Vigorously agreeing) Oui! Je sais 
bien ! 

Pug. {Jumps to his feet as steps are heard on 
the stairs) That's her. (Batiste rises; Pug moves 
toward c.) 

Emily. {Enters; surprised and pleased as she 
sees Pug) Oh, you! How jolly of you to keep 
your promise so punctually. {Shakes hands with 
the emharrdssed Pug) 

Pug. {Overcome with pleased embarrassment) 
Oh, I just thought I'd kinder drop in. {As Batiste 
coughs to attract attention) And I brought him, 
too. 

Emily. {Crossing and offering her hand to Ba- 
tiste) Oh, your friend! Why, this is perfectly 
delightful. I can't believe it's the same man! 

Batiste. {Grinning and flattered) Oui, just the 



50 THE LITTLE TEACHER 

same man ; only now I got my swell clothes on. 

Emily. Charming. And how are you? 

Batiste. All fine, t'anks, lady. (Fingerinri her 
frdck curiously) Mon Dieu, what a pretty dress, 
hein? Never of my life have I seen so 

Pug. Sh ! (Emily turris and looks at him. As 
she turns hack to Batiste, Pug motions to him to 
go) He can only stay a minute. 

Emily. {Not appreciating the other's purpose) 
Oh, that's too bad after commg so far. 

Batiste. (Sitting with perfect satisfaction) All 
right, then I stay one while. I lak it good here. 
Oh, mon Dieu, what a pretty dress. You buy him 
some place ? 

Emily. No, I made it myself. 

Batiste. Oh, jolie ! Tres jolie ! 

Pug. Too bad, but he's really got to hurry along. 
He's booked to play Gabouche with the other Ca- 
nucks and they'll be rotten peeved if he don't show 
up on time. {With a covert gesture to Batiste) 

Batiste. {Perceiving, hut ignoring the sugges- 
tion) Oh, I got plenty of time. {Takes out his 
pipe) 

Emily. That's nice ! Do stay ! 

Pug. {Secretly showing a clenched fist to Ba- 
tiste, hut with a manner of cordial invitation) Yes, 
do stay. Do stay ! 

Batiste. {Jumping up suddenly) I got to scoot 
now, lady. 

Emily. Oh, must you ! 

Batiste. {Backing up-stage l.) Oui. 

Pug. {Showing his fist) Oh, don't hurry! 

Batiste. No, I don't hurry, but I go quick ! 
{Going toward door l.) 

Emily. Well, it has been so nice to see for my- 
self that you're quite all right again. {Turning to 
Pug) And must you go, too? 

Pug. Oh, no! 



THE LITTLE TEACHER 51 

Batiste. (With malicious delight) Oh, no, he 
ro '^tav al- evening^. (Comically, as if playing a 
fddh 7rhife he sinas) " A^ouette, s^entille alouette." 
(With his hand to his heart, a prolonged 'sigh and a 
launh) An revoir, ma chere mad'm'selle ! Au re- 
voir. (Singing as he exits) " Alouette, gentille 
alouette." 

(Emily turns to Pug. They stand a fezv seconds 
smi^inq at each other zvithoiit speaking, both 
rather self-cortscious.) 

'^UG. (Embarrassed) Of course I'll go if you 
^\h^cr YY\e. the ^vorii. miss. 

Emily. (Smilingly) Oh, not at all. Do stay! 
(Motions to chair r. of table) Sit down. (She 
sits L. of table; Pug r. of it) . , 

(Mrs. Hodges enters from the kitchen expecting to 
find the two men gone. As she sees Pug she 
comes doivn-staqe r. looks him over, then 
flounces angrily out of the room.) 

Pug (After Mrs. Hodges is off) Say, I don't 
thmk the old lady puts much money on me. Funny 
thing : in the country, now, they think there's some- 
thing kinky about you if your postmark is New 
York. 

Emily. Oh. are you from New York ! 

Pug. Am I from New York ! Well, where d'd 
you think I was from — North Goshen? 

Emily. Oh, it's so long since I've seen anybody 
from Home. (With enthusiasm) Why, this is 
splendid. I've been perishing with homesickness. 
Oh. don't you just dream and dream about New 
York at night. 

Pug. You bet yer ! 

Emily. The crowds there. O, if I could only be 



52 THE LITTLE TEACHER 

in a crowd a.^ain — a dear, heavenly, New York 
crowd — and feel myself pushed and pulled and 
stepped on and torn into a thousand pieces ! Do you 
know, sometimes I can't keep the tears back, I get so 
hungry for the rush hour in the subway. 

Pug. Yes. (Pause) Say, it must be hell to be 
born in the country. 

. Emily. I was born on 109th street, just east of 
Co'umbus. 

Pug. (Eagerly) Right where the. " L " swings 
round that big high curve ! 

Emily. (Nods) I used to see the trains all day 
and hear them in my dreams all night long. Oh, it 
was heavenly ! What part of New York are you 
from ? 

Pug. Jersey City. 

Emily. Oh, well, you can see New York from 
there, can't you. Is your home there now ? 

Pug. (Amused) Home! Say, I ain't got no 
home — never did have. 

Emily. (Distressed) Never had a home! 

Pug. I was just sort of — well, plunked down, 
see ? Anywheres like. 

Emily. (With intense sympathy as she rises 
and goes above the table, leaning toward him) You 
poor lamb. And you never had a mother to look out 
for you. 

Pug. Well, the Sisters of Charity they tried to 
do the mother act ; tried their damndest, God bless 
'em, but I guess I didn't give 'em no chance. Skun 
out and beat it before I was eight. 

Emily. (Gently) No school? 

Pug. (With humorous humility) Well, I learnt 
how to wipe the blackboard. And I kin write my 
own name ; and that's something when you consider 
the name. 

Emily. (Startled into laughter) Name! Oh, 
what is your name? 



THE LITTLE TEACHER 53 

Pug. Well, the bunch calls me Pug. 

Emily. Pug? 

Pug. But that ain't my official name. Never 
seen a guy yet could spell my official name without 
chokin'. 

Emily. What is it? 

Pug. The Mother Superior picked it — God bless 
her — just the kind a Mother Superior would pick 
— after one of the old saints. Don't laugh now — 
here it comes. {Enunciates it with a certain shame - 
facedness) Polycarp. 

Emily. Polycarp! Oh, I think that's heavenly 
for a man like you. Fm always going to call you 
Polycarp. 

Pug. Fine. And Fm always goin' to call you 
Emily. 

Emily. {Somewhat disconcerted) Oh, well, I 
don't know about that! {Goes slowly hack to her 
chair) 

Pug. {Pentinent and apologetic) I got yer. That 
was fresh. You got to tell me when I grow pre- 
sumchyous. 

Emily. {Sits at l. of table again) When were 
you in the city last, Mr. Polycarp? 

Pug. Two weeks ago. Miss West. 

Emily. Really! Business? 

Pug. {With an absence of enthusiasm) Pleasure. 

Emily. {Eagerly) What did you do? 

Pug. I don't remember much about it. 

Emily. {Missing the meaning of his shyness) 
Only two weeks ago. 

Pug. {Re'solved she shall know the worst about 
him) And the less I remember, the better I feel, 
see? 

Emily. {Comprehending) Oh, I see! 

Pug. {After a slight pause) Funny now, ain't 
it? A man spends weeks thinkin' '' God, what fun a 
little blow-off would be." And then he goes and has 



54 THE LITTLE TEACHER 

it ; and it ain't fun while he has it and it ain't fun 
after he has it. The only time a blow-oflf is fun is 
beforehand. Now why is that? Gee, ain't life the 
limit. What's it all about, anyhow? 

Emily. (Surprised) Do you think about these 
things, too? 

Pug. Sure ! It's all right when you belong to 
someone, but when you begin life just plunked down 
some place — would you believe it, miss, you're the 
very first nice lady I ever talked to? I mean like 
this — refined — in society. You know I think it a 
dead swell. 

Emily. (Pause; then suddenly in attitude of 
listening) Hush! I thought I heard — (Rises and 
crosses to foot of stairs) 

Pug. What's the matter? 

Emily. No, all is quiet. 

Pug. Good ! 

Emily. (Coming down r. of him) Mr. Poly- 
carp, do you know what I've got tucked away up- 
stairs ? 

Pug. No. 

Emily. Two adorable babies. 

Pug. Babies! 

Emily. I brought them home with me to-night. 
Oh, I wish I could take you up-stairs and show them 
to you. They look so dear and heavenly in my bed. 

Pug. (With honest fervor) I bet yer they do ! 

Emily. They've been cruelly treated at home, so 
I took them. And don't you think I'm doing exactly 
right ? 

Pug. (Rising) I think anything you do is right. 

Mrs. Hodges. {Enters r. with lighted lamp, 
which she sets on the organ. Pug moves over l.) 
Miss West, there's something I got to say to you 
and it don't matter to me whether your visitor there 
stays or goes. 

Emily. Is it something private, Mrs. Hodges? 



THE LITTLE TEACHER 55 

Mrs. Hodges. Dassay it'll be unpleasant. 

Pug. Then I'll stay. (Sits on the sofa l.) 

Mrs. Hodges. Them children have got to go! 

Emily. Why, but Mrs. Hodges, I don't think 
you 

Mrs. Hodges. (Cutting her off zvith angry force) 
Now there ain't no use argufying on the subject. 

Pug. (Rising) But now see here, ma'am 

Mrs. Hodges. (Interrupting as she comes c. in 
frofit of the table) And don't you talk to me like 
that, young feller. I got the law on my side and 
the authorities too. 

Emily. I realize that, Mrs. Hodges, but 

(Pug moves up to the window.) 

Mrs. Hodges. Miss West, I talked this all over 
with Mr. Brock way and he says I'm right ; told me 
to go ahead. I done the best I could to make you 
comfortable in my house, but as for allowin' you to 
kidnap a couple o' children and farm them out on 
me — no! 

Emily. But, Mrs. Hodges, I'll pay you every 
cent I earn. 

Mrs. Hodges. No, you won't. I tell you, you 
can't keep 'em here. 

Emily. (With quiet decision) Very well, then 
I must go somewhere else. (Moves up r.) 

Mrs. Hodges. (Challengingly, as she moves up 
after her) Where'll you go? 

Emily. There must be some place. 

Mrs. Hodges. (Harshly) You know right well 
there ain't. You can walk from here to Jericho and 
who do you suppose would take you in with a couple 
o* strange children you ain't got a shadder o' claim 
on. 

Emily. (Turning on Mrs. Hodges) I have a 
claim on them. I have! They need a mother — 
a home. 

Mrs. Hodges. They've got a home. 



56 THE LITTLE TEACHER 

Emily. (With horror) And you'd have me 
send them back there! 

Mrs. Hodges. Send 'em where you Hke. I won't 
have children in my house and that settles it ! (Sits 
R. of center table) 

Emily. (Passionately) Oh, how can you say 
that ! How can you. Haven't you any heart at all ? 
(Moves hack of center table) Can't you see that 
the poor little things are starving for someone to 
love them. . They want care and shelter and kind- 
ness ; the things children live by. Oh, if you couM 
have seen them when they came to me to-day, two 
lost birds, broken by the storm, driven to the one 
shelter they knew in all this wide world. Do you 
think I could have said no to them? You know I 
couldn't. Haven't you ever had any little children 
clinging to you? Don't you know how they clutch 
and tug at something here — the deepest and lov- 
ingest thing you have in you? (Mrs. Hodges makes 
no reply; sits in grim silence. Emily comes down 
r. of her) Oh, why won't you answer me ? How 
can you be so hard-hearted? Why, it isn't Nature 
to hate children like that ! 

Mrs. Hodges. (Bitterly) I ain't always hated 
children. There was a time I liked 'em around me 
full as much as you. 

Emily. Then there's something back of it all. 
A reason. Oh, what is it ? Tell me ! Tell me ! 

Mrs. Hodges. Ain't I suffered and et my heart 
out all these years and never yet went to nobody 
with my troubles ? What right you got to ask me ? 

Emily. No right, dear — no right — only just the 
right that Love gives. 

Mrs. Hodges. Don't talk to me about love ! I 
never loved but one livin' thing in this world and 
that was took away from me — died — and I ben left 
alone these thirty years — all alone — achin' an' burnt 
out — and seein' other folks around me happy ! (With 



THE LITTLE TEACHER 57 

a c/roan) (3h, why do you make me remember 
things that are gone by so long ago ! 

Emily. Because, dear, they're the most beauti- 
ful things any of us women have in our lives. 

Mrs. Hodges. (Stifled with tears)- My sweet 
little baby girl — only two years old — and took sick 
and died — all of a sudden 'fore ever I could get a 
doctor! And she was so pretty, too — never caused 
one bit of trouble — and her little hands used to hold 
me so sweet — she was a'l that ever I had to ove ! 

Emily. You poor lamb ! Why didn't you ever 
tell me? 

Mrs. Hodges. (Clutching the girl convulsively) 
I never told nobody — nobody ! 

Emily. {Soothing her gently) When I lost 
my father I felt just like that. I wouldn't let them 
take him away. I held him in my arms, begging him 
to breathe again ; to open his eyes. But, dear, God 
doesn't mean that love to starve in us. He means 
us to give it to someone. It's needed somewhere — 
always — always — somewhere ! 

Mrs. Hodges (Mops her eyes, bracing herself 
with a qiieer happy smile) My land! I ain't had a 
cry in thirty years' time. Thought I'd plumb for- 
got how. Don't it do a body a heap of good? 

Pug. (Coming down l. wiping the tears away) 
Good! What the hell's the good of that! 

Mrs. Hodges. (Rising and going c.) Oh, shut 
up. What do you know how a woman's made? 

Emily. (With gentle pleading) You will let 
them stay! 

Pug. (Interrupts Mrs. Hodges as she is about to 
speak) 'Course she will. 

Mrs. Hodges. But what would you and me do, 
a couple of foolish women, if Bert Gresham was 
to take it into his head to break in here some night 
with murder in his heart. 

Pug. (With dominating confidence) Well, if 



58 THE LITTLE TEACHER 

that's all that's troubling^ you. T don't see where 
there's any need to worry. 

Mrs. Hodges. Why for? 

Pug. (With complacency) Well, ain't I here? 

Mrs. Hodges. But you ain't a-goin' to stay 
here ! 

Pug. Why not ain't I? 

Emtey. (Crossing to Pug) Oh. 

Pug. Yes, and if I can't take care of this guy 
What's His-Name, well, I guess you'd better feed 
me on bab}^ food for the rest of my life. 

Mrs. Hodges. But I got no place jK) sleep you. 

Pug. (Indicating lounge l.) Well, this is pretty 
swell bunks compared to what they give us down 
to the lumber shanty. How about it? 

Mrs. Hodges. But I don't know nothin' about 
you, neither. 

Pug. I know I'm a tough guy and I gotta rotten 
reputation, but you can take it from me, ma'am, I'm 
on the level this time. 

Emily. (Crossing to Mrs, Hodges) Oh, do 
let him help us ! Do. 

Pug. (As Mrs. Hodges starts to speak) Fine 
and dandy. And now don't you fret yourself about 
anything, Mother. (Emily crosses to stairs and 
stands on first 'step) Just you go and get a good 
night's rest. 

Mrs. Hodges. Sleep ! My land, I don't feel like 
I'd ever shut my two eyes again as long's I live. 
(Goes above center table) That lamp's been burn- 
ing all evening. (Pulls down the hanging lamp and 
extinguishes it) I'll put it out. 
(Going toward the kitchen) If anybody 'd o' told 
me this mornin' that before bedtime I'd be saddled 
with a growed-up man and two young children — ■ 
well, that's your fault. Miss West — just because 
you got ' me to remember in' things. (Exits into 
the kitchen) 



THE LITTLE TEACHER 59 

Emily. {Cros^ses to Pug) Oh, how can I ever 
thank you. 

Pug. {Embarrassed with pleasure) Oh, that's 
all right ! 

Marie. {Off-stage r. in a terrified voice) Teacher! 
Teacher! {Runs down the stairs to Emily) 

Emily. {Gathering the child in her arms) What 
is it, dear? Oh, what is it? 

Marie. Teacher — I woke up — and I was afraid. 
Oh teacher. 

Emily. {Sits r. of the table with the child in 
her lap) Why, my poor little baby girl. It was 
orly a bad horrid dream. 

]\Iarie. {Sobbing and clinging tightly to Emily) 
You won't let them send me away J 

Emily. No. You're going to stay right here. 
Listen, dear. I've a wonderful surprise for you. 
Do you see that nice big man over there? That's 
Mr. Polycarp. He's going to stay here to-night 
— and every night we need him — so as to make per- 
fectly sure nothing will happen to you. {Rises) 
Come over here, Mr. Polycarp, I want to intro- 
duce you. (Pug crosses to l. of them) You must 
shake hands with Marie. 

Pug. {Shaking hands with Marie) A privilege, 
miss. An' any time you're wantin' a policeman just 
let me know. 

Emily. Now, is that better. Are we ready to 
go up-stairs again? {Takes Marie's hand and 
starts for the stairs) 

Marie. {With shy pleading) I wish you'd make 
some music. 

Emily. If I make some music will you go to 
bed and to sleep like my own good little girl? 

Marie. Yes. 

Emily. Very well, then — if Mr. Polycarp will 
excuse us. {Sits at the organ) 

Pug. {Eagerly) Excuse yer ! I'll buy a ticket. 



6o THE -LITTLE TEACHER 

{Sits on lounge l.) Don't you bother about me. 

Emily. And what shall it be? 

Marte. 'Bout the stars and children. 

Emily. {Sings softly) 

" Do you know how many stars 
There are shining in the sky? 
Shining in the midnight darkness 

(Andy comes dozvn the stairs and stands l. of 

Emily.) 

While the hours go slowly by? 

(Liz appears at the window.) 

God in heaven has counted all 
He would miss one, should it fall." 

(Liz Gresham motions off l. and Bert Gresiiam 
appear at the window l. of her. Liz has a 
leather strap in her hand. She points to the 
group at the organ, then in pantomiw^e puts the 
strap around her neck and tightens it as if 
choking somebody. She then hands the 'strap 
^0 Gresham, who takes it from her and comes 
around to door. Pug, slotting on the lounge 
down-stage l. has not been visible to the in- 
tritders. Gresham enters door l. and sneaks 
quietly toward Emily and the children with 
the strap in his hand. As he nears the organ 
Pug sees him. He quietly makes a leap, claps 
his hand over Gresham 's mouth, twists his 
arm back and runs him out of the room before 
the latter can utter a sound. With a kick, he 
sends him flying off the porch. Liz angrily 
shakes her fist at Emily and disappears in the 
darkness. Pug returns to the room, perfectly 
unperturbed, tiptoes down-stage and sits on the 
lounge, as the curtain falls.) 



THE LITTLE TEACHER 6i 

ACT HI 

Scene: The school room morning. Two weeks 
later. On the outside of window is 'seen dup- 
licate of drop used in Act I except that it^ is 
Spring and the scene in foliage, and everything 
is in bloom. 

Discovered : Pug is hard at zvork at the blackboard 
tip R. making a diagram of the sentence : '' The 
stag at eve had drunk his fillf' The task is 
one which taxes his utmost capacities. 

Batiste is seen outside the window. He 
looks in, sees Pug, passes the windozv and a 
moment later bursts in l. 

Batiste. (Pug comes down-stage r. c. as Ba- 
tiste enters and goes quickly to R.) Oh, te voila, 
mon gars! I look every place for you! (Shakes 
hands enthu'siastically) 

Pug. (With surprise and heartiness) Batiste. 
It's not yourself ! 

(And indeed Batiste is a little difficult of recogni- 
tion in his new suit of American-style clothes.) 

Batiste. Par Dieu, but I be glad to see you 
again. You bet! (With an enthusiastic hug) 

Pug. Same here. But I thought you was back 
again in your little Canuck home. 

Batiste. Pouff, pouff. I got no more Canuck 
home. By-bye to all that. I make myself Ameri- 
can now. I make grand big money now just like all 
Americans; and I spend it — pfoush! (Sings and 
capers l. around the desks and back to Pug) " I 
love the cows and chickens — oh, this is the life." 

Pug. (Laughing) Great, Batiste, great. 

Batiste. But you, Puggee, what you do these 
days now? 



62 THE LITTLE TEACHER 

Pug. (With a zvry smile, indicating the black- 
hoard) Grammar 

Batiste. What ? 

Pug. Rithmetic — awful tough work. (Courage- 
ously) But Em gettin' on, Batiste, gettin' on. She 
has me use the blackboard every Saturday. This 
bein' Saturday, here I am. Don't you understand? 

Batiste. I see ! And the h'l school teach' — 
where is she? 

Pug. She'll be along bye and bye. Had to stop 
at Mrs. Squiers. The new baby was havin' a fit 
or something. 

Batiste. Then Itell you my affair quick. Look, 
Pus^gee, I come here for you. 

Pug. Me ? 

Batiste. Listen ! I only just got two three 
minute, then back to railroad for the train. They 
hate like hell to let me go even one day, but I prom- 
ise to come back quick and bring a man as good as 
me. 

Pug. Back where? 

Batiste. Connecticut-Bridgeport. Oh, say. 
Fine big city; all factories. Lotta work — night 
work — day w^ork. Wages? All you ask for they 
give you and say nothings. (With confidential 
m^anner) Listen, Puggee, you like it swell. Nice 
joints; nice lotta drink; plenty fun. What you say, 
hein ? 

Pug. Nothing doing, Batiste. 

Batiste. (With good-natured raillery) Now, 
now, mon ami, don't be Fou'. I bring you wan fine 
chance, one big chance. (Almost tenderly, and very 
simply) Now look, Puggee, I regrets you like hell. 
Come back with me, hein? 

Pug. But you don't get me, Batiste. Fm booked 
here, see? 

Batiste. Booked, what you mean? 

Pug. I got a job. 



THE LITTLE TEACHER 63 

Batiste. Job? What kind of job? This? 
(Pointing to blackboard) 

Pug. PoHceman. 

Batiste. Policeman? 

Pug. Here. 

Batiste. Oh, I see! (The idea slowly dawning 
on him) Say, you not go marry wid the H'l school 
teach'? By-bye you have some nice li'l papoose? 

Pug. Aw, shut your face! (With spirit, as he 
goes c. twirling an imaginary club) This is my beat, 
see ? And as long as she needs me you can bet your 
sweet life I'm here. 

Batiste. {With sagacious mockery) Oh, Pug- 
gee, you're a man lost for sure. I ask myself if this 
the Puggee that use to be so gay, so drunk. Some 
day God he give you a nice shiny halo like the good 
saints in the church. 

Pug. (With vigor, ds he goes to l. of Batiste) 
Oh, hang it. Batiste, if a feller wants to be — well, a 
regular feller and not — well, just one o' the fellers, 
why shouldn't he? Any kick comin'? (A whistle 
is heard off-stage) 

Batiste. Par Dieu, that's the boy what drive me 
out from the railroad — eight miles — and now he got 
to take me back just the same way. Look, mon 
petit. I come all this voyage just to seen you five 
minute. You ain't mad with me, non? 

Pug. (Deeply touched) Mad? Don't think I 
ever was really mad with you, Batiste ; never could 
be. And it was nice — you're thinking of me — it was 
nice. 

Batiste. (Embracing Pug) Bye-bye, Puggee. 
Belle aventure. I regrets you like hell ! But I hope 
you be happy. Par Dieu, but I hope it sure! Au, 
revoir, Puggee, au revoir. (Starts for door l.) 

Pug. Good-bye, Batiste. Give my regards to the. 
other Canucks. 

Batiste. (Turning at door) Pooh, pooh. I got 



64 THE LITTLE TEACHER 

no more Canucks. Me for Bidgeprort, Main Street. 
(Starts singing 'Tm a Yankee Doodle Dandy," and 
continues same as he exits and around to window as 
he crosses to l. As he passes the window he calls 
out to Pug) Au revoir, Puggee ! (He passes out 
of sight, still singing) 

Pug. So long, Frenchy, so long. 

Aggie. (Enters l.) Hello. I wanted teacher. 
Where is she? 

Pug. Had to stop at Mrs. Squiers. 

Aggie. Lands sake, has that baby took another 
of them fits ! 

Pug. Just so. 

Aggie. T-t-t-t-t — Well, if teacher's there it'll be 
all right. 

Pug. You bet. 

Aggie. (Crosses to l. of Pug, who is in front of 
the desk) Say, Mister, how much longer be you 
a-goin' to stay here? 

Pug. Stay where? 

Aggie. Hangin' around. All the rest of the lum- 
ber crew's been gone for two weeks. Why don't you 
go, too? 

Pug. (Amused) Gettin' tired of me? 

Aggie. Yes. 

Pug. (With a laugh and pantomime) Wow! 
(Punching himself in the jaw) 

Aggie. Well, ma says she won't send me to 
school next term if you're to be always taggin' 
teacher around everywheres ; says it can't be for no 
good noways. 

Pug. Beggin' your pardon, young lady, but your 
Ma must be more or less nuts. 

Lucius. (Suddenly popping up at the window) 
Teacher's comin'! Teacher's comin! (Coynes 
through the window and down-stage l.) 

Aggie. (Crossing to l.) Oh, goody, goody! 

Emily. (Enters merrily, followed hy Andy and 



THE LITTLE TEACHER 65 

Marie) Guess what I found back on the hill above 
the pine trees. (She holds a small nosegay of 
flozvers behind her back) 

Aggie. Candy. 

Emily. Nonsense ! 

Lucius. Mayflowers. 

Emily. Right, and you shall have the first smell 
because you guessed. {Holds the flowers to his 
nose) 

Lucius. M-m mm! 

Marie. Now let Mr. Polycarp smell. 

Emily. Certainly. (Crossing to Fug and holding 
the flozvers to his face) Oh, don't you think the first 
days of Spring are the wonderfullest of the year? 

Pug. {With a choke in his voice) They sure 
are — This year — to me. 

Aggie. I like 'em too, 'cause my hen laid a egg. 

Lucius. Teacher, are you a-gwine to give Mr. 
Polycarp his lesson now? 

Emily. {Smiling to Pug) Is he ready? 

Pug. {Beaming like a boy, and shy) Sure! 

Andy. And can we go and play on the steps ? 

Emily. I don't want you out of my sight a 
minute. You can go play in the coatroom. 

Andy. All right, come on ! (Andy, Marie and 
Lucius exit r. into the coatroom, Emily follozving 
them tip) 

Aggie. {Dozjun l. c.) Teacher, I came to ask if I 
could have a piece of chalk to draw pictures for the 
twins with. 

Emily. {Takes chalk from desk and goes to her) 
Here's a beautiful piece for you Aggie. What are 
you going to draw ? 

Aggie. Well, they're always after me to draw 
pigs, but I think flags is best for wartime, don't 
you? 

Emily. I think our flag is the most beautiful 
thing in the whole world. 



66 THE LITTLE TEACHER 

Aggie. Teacher, are we a-goin' to be in the 
war? 

Emily. I hope so, Aggie, for the sake of all 
those poor orphan babies over there. 

Aggie. That's what I say ! That there Kayser 
just makes me madder'n hops. 'Bye! (Exits l.) 

Emily. (Turns to Pug) Well now? Have 
you parsed that sentence? (Sits l. of table c.) 

Pug. (Coming down to table and giving her a 
folded paper from his breast pocket) You bet. But 
first, if you don't mind, there was something else I 
wanted to ask you about. Ye see, I found an awful 
comic po'm in this here little book you lent me. 
(Sits R. of table and draws a small volume from his 
pocket) 

Emily. (Puzsled and amused, as she looks at 
the book) Comic? In that book? 

Pug. There's these funny wods I never seen be- 
fore 

Emily. Seen before? 

Pug. (Meaning to correct his blunder) See be- 
fore. 

Emily. (Setting him right) Saw before. 

Pug. (With self -disgust) Oh, gee, this gram- 
mar stuff is making a bum out of me. 

Emily. What! 

Pug. Now I ask you — This see-saw stuff — I 
don't travel with it. 

Emily. (Encouragingly) Oh, but you've made 
such amazing progress. 

Pug. Have I? 

Emily. Indeed you have. 

Pug. (Painfully in earnest and much embar- 
rassed) Say, listen Miss Emily. Do you think per- 
haps if I kept on — and I'm goin' to, see ! — that some 
day I might get to be sort of a regular feller? I 
mean, well, you know — what you'd call a regular 
feller, see? 



THE LITTLE TEACHER 6"] 

Emily. (With gentle certitude) I believe we 
can have — or be — almost anything we want in this 
world — if we only want it hard enough — and keep 
at it. 

Pug. You do ! (Impulsively, but with a painful 
shyness) Then listen, Miss Emily, here's another 
thing: HI keep at it, and I'm goin' to, you under- 
stand, but supposin' some day I got to be — well, a 
regular feller — why, do you think p'haps you — I 
mean — (Gives up the superhumanly difficult effort 
in despair) Gee, I guess I'm nuts to-day. (Rise's 
and crosses to r.) 

Emily. (Smiling) Then how about the poem? 

Pug. (Coming back to r. of table) I got it — 
" Spring." 

Emily. Oh, that. Father used to love it. Oh, 
read it. 

Pug. (Sitting r. of table) Well — (Hesitates a 
moment, looking at her and becoming painfully 
aware of the charm that separate's them spiritually) 
You know, I feel terrible foolish. 

Emily. (Surprised) Foolish. Why? 

Pug. Well, here goes. (Reads with agonizing 
mechanical precision and emphasis on the metre) 
" Spring, the sweet Spring is the Year's pleasant 

King 
Then blooms each thing; then maids dance in a ring; 
Cold doth not sting, the pretty birds do sing — 
(Makes an embarrassed pause) Couldn't I hurdle 
the rest? 

Emily. Oh, but it's so simple. 

Pug. (V/ith awkzvard blind efforts) " Cuck- 
oo- jug- jug-pu-wee-to-witta- woo " What the — 
Say, what language is that — Philipino? 

Emily. Silly! That's bird language. 

Pug. Say, ain't it rotten not to have one damn, 
bit of education! (Rises and moves down r.) 



68 THE LITTLE TEACHER 

Emtly. Sh. I've toM you before you mustn't 
swear. 

Fug. I bes: your pardon Miss Emily. But just 
look at me. Here I am, a great big hulk of a guy, 
six feet tall and thirty years old, and I ain't got be- 
yond c-a-t cat, and n-u-t, nut. 

Emily. {With maternal gentleness, as she rises 
and crosses to him) Oh, don't you say such things. 
Be fair to yourself. (Puts her hand on his arm) 

Pug. {Seizing her hand with burning emotion) 
Miss Fm'V. I want to be somebody. T want to be 
a regular feller. I never cared about it before, but 
just lately — since I knowed you — it's got me awful. 
{Choked zvith the tragic intensity of his yearning) 

Pansy. {Entering suddenly, with excited man- 
ver^ Oh. Miss West, teacher. Miss West. {Per- 
ceiving the two and inferring that she is the witness 
of something compromising) Oh, I see. {With 
s^If-conscicus giggles) 'Fraid I interrupted some- 
thing. 

Emily. {Turning to her without any trace of 
embarrassment) Not at all, Pansy. What did you 
want? 

(PuG goes np-stage r.) 

Pansy. {Excitedly) Well, ain't that Squiers' 
baby gone to work and took another fit and Mrs. 
Squiers she called over to me to run quick and send 
teacher ; says you're the only one that knows how 
to stop 'em. 

Emily. {Instantly ready) I'll go right away. 
{As she goes upstage r.) Thank you for bringing 
me word, Pansy. 

Pug. Can I help? 

Emily. {Laughingly) You, with a baby ! {Hu- 
morously severe) Stay right here and study your 
lesson. I'm going this way; the short cut. {As she 



THE LITTLE TEACHER 69 

exits R.) Come Andy, come Marie. 

The Children. (Off-stage r.) Where are you 
going ? 

Emily. We're going over to Mrs. Squiers. 

Lucius. Has that baby took another fit. 

Emily. Yes. And you'll have to run fast to keep 
up with me. 

Andy. Come on, Marie. 

Luc'us. Let's beat her. (Pug closes the door) 

Pansy. (With a sigh) Oh, my. 

Pug. (Coming down R. c.) Ain't you goin', 
too? 

Pansy. (With affectation of hreathlessness, fan- 
ning herself) Not ti 1 I get my breath. I ain't. I'm 
that tuckered. Oh, my. (Drops into chair l. of 
table) 

Pug. What's the matter with you ? 

Pansy. Seems like I might faint. 

PuG. (Who knows she is only pretending) I 
wouldn't if I was you. I guess you'll be all right in 
a minute. (Sits R. of table) 

Pansy. Studying mighty hard these days, ain't 
you? 

PuG. vSure. (Showing her his grammar lesson) 
Say, can you give me the dope on this ? How do you 
what-chamacall-it this sentence? 

Pansy. You mean parse it? Why, this way. 
(Reads the sentence) " The Stag at eve had drunk 
his fill." (Enter Mrs. Caldwell and Miss Meech) 
Stag is the subject — had drunk is the predicate 

Mrs. Caldw^ell. (To Miss Meech, indicating 
that her worst fears are realised) There you are! 
(Pansy jumps up quickly, Pug rises and moves 
down r.) Girl, what are you doing here? 

Pansy. (Flustered) Nothin'. I was only 
ketchin' my breath. 

Mrs. Cald. Well, have you caught it? 

Pansy. Yes, I guess so. 



70 THE LITTLE TEACHER 

Mrs. Cald. Where's the teacher? 

Pansy. (Hurriedly) She'll be right back. Mrs. 
Squiers sent for her. 

Mrs. Cald. (To Miss Meech) This is the sort 
of thing that goes on here. 

Pansy. (With guilty talkativeness) Well, I 
can't speak for nobody else, but this is the first 
time in my life I was ever alone with him ; the very 
first. 

Mrs. Cald. (With severity) Let it be the last. 

Pansy. (Meekly) Thank you. 

Mrs. Cald. You can go. 

Pansy. (Subdued) Thank you. (Crosses to l.) 

Mrs. Cald. And tell your mother to keep better 
watch of you in the future. 

Pansy. Yes, ma'am. (Exits l.) 

Mrs. Cald. (Crossing to l. c. followed by Miss 
Meech) That is how so many of these traged'es 
begin. 

Pug. (Amused, not at all subdued, perfectly at 
ease, yet zvith an underlying earnestness) Now. lis- 
ten here, lady; here's something you can take from 
me straight : Pm here on a business that's strictly 
O. K. 

Mrs. Cald. Business? Indeed. And what is 
that business? 

Pug. My business is to see that no harm comes 
to them two Gesham children nor to Miss West. 

Mrs. Cald. Oh, I see. You wish to keep them 
from harm? 

Pug. That's all I live for. 

Mrs. Cald. And can't you see that you're bring- 
ing more harm to them yourself than anyone else 
could possibly do? 

Pug. Me! Harm. 

Mrs. Cald. Perhaps you don't know what people 
are saying? 



THE LITTLE TEACHER 71 

Pug. (As he drops down r.) Damn what people 
say. 

Mrs. Cald. {Laying down the lazv) No girl who 
cares one mite about her reputation can afford to 
have her name linked with yours. 

Pug. {Turns on her, defiant) Nobody ever saw 
me do or say anything to Miss West that wasn't re- 
spectful. 

Mrs. Cald. It's what people don't see that mat- 
ters. 

Pug. But I want to help her. 

Mrs. Cald. Oh, you do? 

Pug. Yes, ma'am. 

Mrs. Cald. Well, there's one way you can help 
her, and only one. Go away at once — and don't 
come back. 

Pug. Hm ! You're comic. ( Turns his back on 
her, facing front) 

Mrs. Cald. Very well, then the children will be 
taken away from her to-day. 

Pug. {Defiant) Who'll take them? 

Mrs. Cald. In less than ^^^ hour the school 
committee and the chairman of the Board of Select- 
men will be here. They will decide what's to be 
done with the children. If Miss West's got any 
claim at all, you bein' here will ruin it just as sure 
as Shiloh come. You've got to go. 

Pug. {A pause, then with painful earnestness) 
Lady, are you stringin' me? 

Mrs. Cald. It is absolutely true. 

Pug. {Groping his way in pain through these 
baffling facts) Why, them kids is dearer to that 
little girl than anything else in the world. She just 
lives for them. 

Mrs. Cald. That's the very reason you should 

go- 

Pug. {After a pause) Say, if I beat it out ol 
here will they let her keep them? 



72 THE LITTLE TEACHER 

Mrs. Cald. I promise to use my influence. 

Pug. You give me your word? 

Mrs. Cald. I give you my word. (Pause, as 
Pug stands looking front, thinking) Well? 

Pug. (With tragic determination) All right, 
ril go. No one's going to accuse me of standing 
in her way. 

Mrs. Cald. (Pause) Well, what are you wait- 
ing for? 

Pug. (As he moves up r.) I'll say good-bye to 
her first. 

Mrs. Cald. Why can't you let me explain? 

Pug. (Savagely, as he comes down to r. of the 
table) Explain. Do you think I'd want to explain 
to her what a bunch of dirty-minded cornery-groc- 
ery tattle tales are spewin' around. I couldn't ex- 
plain such a thing to her even if I wanted to ; I 
couldn't say the words — not to her— they'd choke in 
my throat. No, sir, if I go, I just go — but I'll say 
good-bye. (Moves over and stands in front of the 
teacher's desk) 

Mrs. Cald. (Nervously) Very well, very wel'. 
(Backing to the door) Come, Sabrina. I promised 
to talk with Mr. Brown before the meeting. (She 
and Miss Meech exit l.) 

(Pug looks about the room; slowly picks up the 
little bunch of flowers Emily has placed on the 
desk ; puts them in a little folder he takers from 
his pocket, gets his hat and starts l.) 

Andy and Marie. (Off-stage) We beat. We 
beat. 

(Emily enters from r.) 

Andy. (Off-stage r.) Can we play in here? 
Emily. Yes, while we finish our lesson. (Comes 



THE LITTLE TEACHER 73 

down to R. of table) Mrs. Squiers' baby was all 
right when I got there. (Sits at the table) And 
now for that sentence. 

Pug. (Blundering, suddenly helpless; his tongue 
petrified zvith embarrassment) There ain't goin' to 
be any sentence. I got mine. 

Emily. What? 

Pug. (Coming to l. of table) Yer see, I been 
figurin' it was gettin' time for me to be goin' along. 

Emily. (Based) Where? 

Pug. (More and more inarticulate as he becomes 
conscious of the dismay he is causing) I d' know, 
ma-am, just — goin' along, that's all. 

Emily. (Still believing there must be some mis- 
understand inq) But I don't know what you mean? 

Pug. Well, yer see I can't keep on stayin' on here 
always, can I ? I got to go some time. 

Emily. (Rising) But the children? 

Pug. (With eager earnestness) That's just it. 
Miss.' 

Emily. Why, but 

Pug. (Trying to be cheerful and cheering) I 
got it fixed. There ain't nothin' for you to worry 
about ; honest. 

Emily. (Struggling to conceal her hurt surprise) 
But, Mr. Polycarp, I didn't realize you — wanted to 

Pug. Want to go ! That ain't nothing to do with 
it. Pm goin' just because it's time, that's all. And 
I wanted to say — (He chokes up with emotion) 
You been awful nice to me, Miss West. 

Emily. (Bezvildered but trying to smile) Why, 
what an idea. Think of all you've done for me, 
I wish I could thank you. 

Pug. Thank me! Thank me! Why, Miss Em'ly, 
you — (Cannot express himself; gives up the hope- 
less task and abruptly exits l. and is seen to pass the 
window hastily. Andy and Marie run on from r.) 



74 THE LITTLE TEACHER 

Andy. Where's Mr. Polycarp gone? 

Emily. {Dazed) I don't know. {Holding 
Marie) You love me, don't you? 

Marie. Of course I do. 

Andy. And so do I, teacher. Everybody does. 
(Emily kisses them) 

Marie. Teacher, what's the matter? 

Emily. {Mastering her emotion and drying her 
eyes) I'm a silly old fool and I ought to be well 
spanked. 

McCullom. {Knocks on the door and enters) 
Good morning. Good morning. Miss West here? 

Emily. I am Miss West, 

McCullom. I am James McCullom, selectman. 
Wonderful weather, Miss West, {Turns tozvard 
door L.) Come in, Mrs, Gresham. {Moves above 
the desk tozvard r.) 

{Enter Liz Gresham, insolent.) 

Marie. {With a cry of terror) Ma! {Runs to 
Emily for shelter) 

Emily. {Comforting the children) It's all right, 
dear. There, there, nobody's going to hurt you. 
{With dignity, to McCullom) I wasn't prepared 
for this visit. 

Andy. {Hiding behind Emily) Teacher, what 
does Ma want? 

Emily. Don't worry. Don't worry. 

Liz. {With sugared command) Andy, come to 
your Ma, 

(Andy shrinks with fright and clings to Emily.) 

Emily. {Answering for him) No! 

McCullom. Time enough for everything, Mrs. 
Gresham, don't be impatient. All in due course. 
{Comes down-stage r.) We're expecting two or 



THE LITTLE TEACHER 75 

three ladies of the Goshen Parish Circle, also three 
members of the school committee. Various prob- 
lems which I need not specify have come up requir- 
in' adjustment ; and this seemed the simplest and 
smoothest way of ad Justin' them. Just as much au- 
thority as the Court and less notoriety. We don't 
want notoriety— bad thing. 

Marie. (In a panic) Teacher, will they take 
us away from you? 

T^MiLY. ( Shelterinq them) No, dear. 

Liz. {With a snort of contemptuous laughter) 
Huh ! 

Eaitly. Be brave, dear, it's all right. 

McCuLLOM. {Azvare of the azvkzvardness of the 
situation) They'd ought to be here before this 
time. Queer! (Moves up tozvard the windows) 

Emily. (With quiet, clear directness) If I may 
interrupt. Mr. McCullom, may I ask just why these 
people are coming here? 

Liz. (Harshly, malignantly) You don' keep-a 
them children any longer. I get the law on you. 
I makka you give them back. Quella donna inf ame ! 

McCullom. (Coming down r.) Tut-tut. (Put- 
ting the facts more diplomatically) The parents 
grieve for their absent little ones, and they have 
petitioned that they be restored to them. 

Emily. Why isn't Mr. Gresham here? 

Liz. He's sick. 

McCullom. Mr. Gresham is temporarily indis- 
posed. But the mother will answer all our questions 
adequately. The testimony of one parent is suffi- 
cient in a case like this. (With relief) Ah, here 
they come ! 

(Brockway and Dunham are seen passing the win- 
dows R. to L. At the same instant the door 
opens and Mrs. Caldwell and Miss Meech 
enter, followed by Brown, Brockway and 



y6 THE LITTLE TEACHER 

Dttnham. Ltz move's over r. Emily and the 
children sit on bench arjainst r. zvall.) 

McCuLLOM. (Cominn up behind teacher's desk, 
waster of ceremonies) Ah. come in. Mrs. Caldwell. 
Mr. Brown. G'nd to see you. Miss Meech. You 
see we arrived ahead of you. All in readiness to 
beo"in proceedin^js ? Here you are. Mr. Brockway. 
How are you. Dunham ? Now I think our number is 
compV^"e. This, hdies and gentlemen, is the mother, 
Mrs. Gresham ; the father bein^ indisposed — ^'Ltz 
nods, rather faivningly, to the nezvcomer's) — and this 
is Miss West, the teacher, who is known already to 
some of you. (Sits at the desk) And now if you'll 
a'l set down just as suits you — wherever you'll be 
comfortable — I think the ladies will find them seats 
to their likin'. (All find seats) There ! Now our 
little circle is filled up. (Calls the meeting to order 
zvith tap of a ruler) And now if you'll all coms^to 
order we can take up the business before us without 
more formalities. Is it so voted? (Without zvait- 
ing for a vote) Yes. (Absolutely in his element) 
I don't require to explain to you the intent and pur- 
pose of this meetin<^ in detail. We possess author- 
ity in our several capacities : I as Selectman of this 
town, you gentlemen as the School Committee, to 
decide, with the advice and assistance of these good 
ladies, what disposition is to be made of these chil- 
dren. I do not need to repeat the story of how 
they come to be livin' at the present time with Miss 
West. That is only too well known to us all. Now, 
children, I want you to stand up and step out here 
so we can all have a good look at you. (The chil- 
dren are frightened and do not move) 

Emily. Oh, rnust they ! Surely you won't insist. 

McCuLLOM. (With smiling firmness) I advise 
them to do as I direct. (Emily zuhispers encourag- 
ingly to the children, zvho go in front of the desk; 



THE LITTLE TEACHER "/l 

Marie clinging to Andy) Smart now! That's it. 
(Looking at them over his glasses) Hm. Nice ap- 
pearin'. ITow old are you, my little man? 

Andy. Going on nine. 

McCuLLOM. And how about you, young lady? 
(Marie, too frightened to anszver, hides her face 
against Andy's shoulder) 

Andy. She's six. 

McCuLLOM. {With jocular severity) What. Six 
years old and can't talk yet. Tut-tut. 

Andy. Please, it's 'cause she's frightened. 

McCuLLOM. (Benignantly) Frightened? Why, 
I'm not going to eat you, little girl. 

Meech. (To Mrs. Caldwell) What a winning 
way he has with children. 

McCuLLOM. Now look, children; there's your 
Mamma over there and she finds home a very lone- 
some place without her little ones; and Poppa's 
sick ; and now don't you want to go back there again 
of your own free will and volition without being 
sent there by legal compulsion? (Andy and Marie 
run in a panic to Emily) 

Emily. (With quivering eagerness, as she rises) 
Mr. Chairman, may I speak? 

McCuLLOM. I think first of all 'twould be suit- 
able to hear what the mother has to say. Mrs. 
Gresham, we will listen to you. 

Liz. (With grim vigor; dramatically expressive, 
as she rises and takes stage c.) I say: what for 
she gotta right to keep my children. Don't father 
and mother come first? Ain't we always been kind 
to them? Plenty to eat — plenty clothes — no, not 
rich a clothes ; not like them, no, but good. And 
perhaps if their father was sometimes too mad with 
them — but now he promise no more lickin'. An' we 
don't want no strange lady to tak our children. We 
no letta her keep them-a child no longer. No, no. 
She give-a them back. She give-a them back. (With 



78 THE LITTLE TEACHER 

an attitude of ugly menace to Emily) 

Emily, (impctnonsly. as she comes in front of 
desk) Mr. Chairman, facts are more important 
than words. May I tell you a few facts about thes^ 
children — about the way they have been treated at 
home by their own father and mother? 

McCuLLOM. If you was to do it, Miss Wst, 
'twou'd on^y be one woman's testimony against an- 
other's. And whose, I ask you, shall we accept? 
Yours or that of the mother? 

Emily. (With a flash of indignation) I tell 
you facts are facts ! 

McCuLLOM. Silence. Be so good as to remem- 
ber where you are and who you are. 

Emily. But I must speak. 

McCuLLOM. All in due course. (Dunham rises) 
Mr. Dunham has the floor. 

(Emily and Liz sit.) 

Dunham. Mr. Chairman, I have made inquiries 
regarding the home conditions at the Greshams, 
and I regret to report that things are bad there — de- 
plorable. The father is a hard drinker; in fact he 
is drtmk at this moment, and he is reputed t^ be 
idle, brutal, dreaded by his neighbors, and the 
mother, from all I can learn, is a fit companion for 
him. 

Liz. (With a sullen flctsh) What-a that. 

Dunham. I am forced to recommend that the 
children shall not be returned to their parents. 
(Sits) 

Emily. (Rising and coming to c.) Oh, then 
let me keep them ! I want them so much. There 
isn't anything I wont do to make them happy. They 
came to me for shelter and protection and all I ask 
is a chance to keep on giving them that they need. 
Oh, let me, please! 



THE LITTLE TEACHER 79 

Liz. (Rising) No, no, no. 
Brown. (Rising) Mr. Chairman. 
McCuLLOM. Mr. Brown. 

( Liz sits. ) 

Brown. It may be that their parents are not fit 
persons to look out for the children, but that doesn't 
prove that their young lady here is a fit person — 
if what people say regarding her goings-on with a 
certain party is true. 

Emily. (Dumbfounded) Why, what do you 
mean ! 

Brown. Well, I figure everybody else in this 
room knows what I mean. (Sits) 

Mrs. Cald. (Rising) Mr. Chairman, I am glad 
to report that in the future there will be no cause 
for complaint on that score. A remedy has been 
found. I had a private talk this morning with the 
lumberman in question and he finally agreed to 
leave town immediately. He has gone. 

(Surprise and approval expressed by all the 

company.) 

Emily. (Incredulous) You made him go? 

Mrs. Caldwell. I did. (Sits) 

Emily. (Szvept off her feet) But he was my 
friend. 

Brockway. (Rising) Friend! And do you 
think it suitable that our school teacher should be 
friends with an illiterate, profane, low-lived roust- 
about. 

Emily. (With a blaze of anger) Stop! Don't 
you dare. 

Brockway. Why, the thing is a common scandal. 

Brown. (Vindictive) Did you think nobody 
knew anything about it. 



8o THE LITTLE TEACHER 

Emily. (Completely forgetting herself in her 
indignation) Oh, how shameful. Why, there never 
was anyone with a bigger, finer heart. 

Brockway. Fine. Well ! 

Emily. Yes, fine- — fine. Finer than any of you 
here who dare to laugh at him. And so true, so 
manly, so tender. Not one of you shall say one 
word against him. 

Brock WAY. Well, if that's the way Miss West 
takes a thing that's done for her own good, I cer- 
tainly think it's time those children were put in 
better hands. (Sits) 

Emily. Well, I won't give them up. 

McCuLLOM. Oh, you won't. 

Emily. You can't make me. Not all of you to- 
gether can make me. (Sits on bench between Andy 
and Marie) 

(Liz laughs malignantely, triumphantly.) 

Dunham. (Rises) Mr. Chairman. 

McCullom. Mr. Dunham. 

Dunham. I have a solution to propose which I 
believe will meet with your approval. Twenty miles 
from here, at Black River, is situated the Dickinson 
Home for Abandoned Children. System and dis- 
cipline are emphasized. No nonsense. Uniforms 
are worn. The children march to and from the 
dining room two abreast. My brother-in-law being 
a life trustee of the establishment, I succeeded in 
securing commitment papers for two children, boy 
and girl. (Crosses to desk) All that is necessary 
is the signature of one parent. (Hands the docu- 
ment to McCullom) 

Brown. (Rises) Am I to understand that these 
children can be maintained at this Home without 
any expense being incurred by the town of Goshen? 

Dunham. (Coming back to his seat) Not a 
penny. (Sits) 



THE LITTLE TEACHER 8i 

Brown. Very well. Mr. Chairman, I recommend 
that the children be committed to the Dickinson 
Home for Abandoned Children. (Sits. General 
expressions of approval from the others) 

Emily. (Excitedly, as she rise's and comes to c.) 
Oh, no, anything but that. Anything. 

McCuLLOM. (Rapping on the desk. His patience 
at an end) Miss West, this matter no longer con- 
cerns you in any way. Do I hear Mr. Brown's mo- 
tion seconded? 

Brock WAY. I second the motion. 

McCuLLOM. Those in favor signify it in the 
usual manner. (A chorus of ''Ayes''). It is so 
voted. (7c Liz) And now, my good woman, for 
the sake of your children's welfare, I now call on 
you to affix your signature or mark to this docu- 
ment. (Opens the document and preparers the pen. 
Liz rises) 

Emily. (Up to Liz) Oh, don't do it. Don't do 
it! 

Liz. (Throwing Emily aside and crossing to 
desk) I put my mark there — (Pointing to docu- 
ment) — and the children go to the Home? 

McCullom. Quite so. 

Liz. (Takes up the pen and turns toward Emily) 
An' she don' getta them? 

McCuLLOM. This fixes it. 

Liz. (Still looking at Emily) She don' never 
getta them? 

McCullom. Once in the Home they are there 
to stay. 

Liz. An' she don' go there to see them? 

McCuLLOM. No. 

Liz. (With malignant triumph) Good! (Turns 
to desk and is about to sign, when Emily takes her 
by the arm) 

Emily. (With wild appeal, turning Liz around, 
facing her) Mrs. Gresham, you must know all I 



82 THE LITTLE TEACHER 

wanted was to see your children happy. And you 
want that, too, don't you. You're their mother and 
you can't want to see them robbed of the love they 
need. Oh, don't sign that paper. It's sending them 
away to loneliness and heart break. Don't. Don't. 

Liz. {With hate) Uo-h. {Turns again to the 
desk) 

McCuLLOM. {Indicating place on the document) 
Here. 

Emii,y. {Again takes 'Liz by the arm as she is 
about to sign) Oh, don't you love them at all. 
(Liz, with a cruel laugh, throws her off, and with a 
quick movement makes a cross on the document, 
then throzvs down the pen and looks triumphantly 
at Emily) 

Emily. {With a cry of horror) Oh, how can 
you ! Why, no mother in the world ever felt like 
that about her own children. It's love mothers feel 
for their children — love — ^'ove. That's the wa}/ 
God made them. And you — -(Liz leers around in'o 
her face) Oh, you cruel woman. You monster. 
Why, I don't believe you are their mother. 

Liz. What-a-that? 

Emily. I don't believe you are their mother. 

Liz. You no say that again. 

Emily. I'll say it so loud that all the world will 
hear me. I don't believe you are their mother. 
They're not your children at all. 

Liz. {To McCullom) Why for you let that 
woman say these things. Ain't I live here almost 
six years with them children. Don' everybody 
know me and my children. Why for you let her 
say these things? 

Emily. Mr. McCullom, she can't be their mother. 
She hasn't shown one single spark of mother in- 
stinct, not one. I appeal to you : is there one mother 
in the world would deliberately abandon her own 
children to an asylum? Is there one mother in the 



THE LITTLE TEACHER 83 

world who would gloat over doing such a cruel, 
heartless thing? It's incredible. Why, I tell you, 
Mr. McCullom, until those little babies came to me 
they had never known one kind word or gentle 
touch. Their whole existence was one of fear ; 
two helpless little victims of neglect and crueltv. 
I say it again : she can't be the mother of those chil- 
dren. (Accusingly, to Liz) What brought you to 
this litt-e village with those two babies? Why did 
you come here ? Who is that man Gresham ? Where 
were those little children born? When Vv^here they 
born? What dates? Tell me. Answer me. (Paw.?^) 
She's afraid of the truth. She's afraid of the truth. 
Oh, Mr. McCullom, it's your duty to investigate. 
You owe it to these little children. You owe it to 
this community. You owe it to justice and Hu- 
manity. {With a new thought) Oh, if the chil- 
dren weren't so little they could remember. Andy, 
come to me. (Andy crosses to her) Andy, try to 
remember something that will help me. Look back 
— back — so long ago^wasn't there some other place 
— some other life — very different? {After a pause 
he slowly shakes his head) Oh, you were so little. 
But think, Andy, think. Isn't there something way 
in the back of your little mind? 

Andy. {After a vain effort of memory) I can't 
remember anything 

Emily. {With a sob of despair) Oh! 

Andy. Only just my angel. 

Emily. Your angel? Oh, but that's it, dear. 
Why, of course, I thought it was a dream, but you 
knew better all the time. 

Andy. It isn't a dream — it's real. 

Emily. And she comes to you at night when 
you're fast asleep — think Andy — think — with soft 
brown eyes 

Andy. And she smiles at me a lonsf time and 



84 THE LITTLE TEACHER 

don't say anything — then just when she's going to 
speak— 

Emily. Oh, but don't wake up, dear. Listen, 
Andy, she will speak. She's smiling at you — don't 
wake up — and she leans down very close to you — 
and she whispers 

Andy. My — little — son. (Emily turns with 
silent appeal to McCullom) 

McCuLLOM. (Looks at Liz a moment) Mrs. 
Gresham, where zvere those children born? (Mrs. 
Gresham is silent. A long pause) Gentlemen, this 
is a case for the police. 

Marie. {To McCullom, after a slight pause) 
Mister, are we going to stay with teacher? 

McCullom. For the present, little lady, you are 
going to stay with teacher. 

(Marie runs to Emily.) 

Emily. Thank you, Mr. McCullom. {As she 
gathers the children. close in her arms) Sweethearts. 
Darlings. Sweethearts. 

ACT IV 

Scene : Same as Act II : The living room at Mrs. 
Hodges, but now it is early summer and through 
the windows the green woods and fields may he 
seen, brilliant in the afternoon sunlight. 

In the middle distance an apple orchard is in 
adorable bloom, and the wisteria festoons the 
porch with its exotic clusters. Both windows 
and doors up l. are open. The stove has been 
removed. The room, is slightly re-arranged to 
make it more human and liveable. The dining 
room table now stands up and dozvn-stage r. 
Standing the same way at h. side of stage, also 
with an oilcloth cover, is a large kitchen table. 



THE LITTLE TEACHER 85 

Three chairs are placed at each side of both 
tables. A sewing machine is down l. 

Seated down extreme l. is Pansy; just above 
her Mrs. Caldwell is seated at the sewing ma- 
chine. Mrs. Hodges is standing at upper end 
of table R. Seated at the two tables r. and l. 
are ten women. They all have on Red Cross 
aprons and are zvorking on materialj^ making 
pajamas for the soldiers. 

At the rise of the curtain they are all talk- 
ing about the zvork and discussing different 
methods of making them. After the curtain is 
zvell up, Mrs. Caldwell speaks. 

Mrs. Caldwell. (Philosophically, as the curtain 
rises) Well, of course, you can say what you like. 
I do mean to be in sympathy with the modern 
trend and all — I think it is my duty to be open- 
minded always — I think we should be — but I must 
say I think the old-fashioned night shirt a sight more 
sensible for a soldier than these pajamas. I never 
did like anything fussy on a man. 

Mrs. Hodges. (Coming down c.) Still, they do 
say the trenches are terrible cold places in winter. 
Ld think the more a garment would cling to you the 
better. 

Pansy. But they don't wear pajamas in the 
trenches. 

Mrs. Caldwell. (Just a little sharply) How do 
you know ? Been there ? 

Pansy. Pve seen pictures. It's sort of mud- 
guards. 

Mrs. Hodges. Day time, yes, but surely when 
night comes the poor boys get into something easy. 
(Moves to head of r. table) 

Meech. (Appearing in doorway l. ; dressed to 
kill) May we come in? 



86 THE LITTLE TEACHER 

Mrs. Hodges, (Coming down r. c.) Do come 
in. Miss Meech. 

Mrs. Cald. Yes, do come in, Sabrina. 

Meech. (Coming down c.) How do you do, 
ladies. (The zvomen at the table all respond. Gen- 
eral hiiZB of conversation for a moment, then Meecpi 
speaks again) Oh, I've been all the way to Corn- 
wall to fetch Mrs. Tarberry. 

Mrs. Cald. Oh, Mrs. Tarberry ! 

Meech. (Going up to door l., talking as she 
goes) She has been so anxious to see our little 
Red Cross group at work. (Calling out through the 
doorzvay) Come in, Mrs. Tarberry. (Mrs. Tar- 
berry- enters and comes down c. with Meech) 
Ladies, this is Mrs. Tarberry. (The women ac- 
knozvledge the introduction) Mrs. Caldwell, you 
remember Mrs. Tarberry? (Goes to head of r. 
table and puts on her work-apron) 

Mrs. Cald. (Crossing to Mrs. Tarberry) I 
met Mrs. Tarberry in Cornwall last year. (Shaking 
hands with her) How do you do, Mrs. Tarberry. 

Mrs. Tarberry. (Gushily) Lovely! Perfectly 
lovely. 

Mrs. Caldwell. And I'll make you acquainted 
with Mrs. Hodges, who has opened her hou^e to us 
to-day. 

Mrs. Tarberry. How lovely ! 

Mrs. Caldwell. Mrs. Hodges, this English lady, 
Mrs. Tarberry, is the wife of the new Methodist 
minister over to Cornwall. (Goes back to her sew- 
ing machine) 

Mrs. Hodges. (Shaking hands) Glad to know 
you, Mrs. Tarberry. Won't you set? (Indicating 
chair r. of l. table) 

Mrs. Tarberry. Thank you. (Strolls l., Mrs. 
Hodges goes to head of r. table. Miss Meech 
coines down l. of r. table) And all in uniforms! 

Meech. (Down to Mrs. Tarberry) That was 



THE LITTLE TEACHER 87 

I'tt'e Emi^.y's idea. She said we'd work twice as 
weM if ?he'd put us in uniform and we do. 

Mrs. Tarberry. Well, now that's quite an idea. 
(Indicating Pansy; Meech moves to chair l. of 
R. table) And who is that busy young girl? 

Pansy. (Pleased, but zvith quiet demeanor, as she 
rises) Pansy RoUins, ma'am. 

I\Irs. Tarcerry. Dear me ! So young and so 
devoted. 

Pansy. (Embarrassed) Yes, ma'am. 

Mrs. Caldwell. Sit down. 

(Pansy sits.) 

]\Irs. Tarberry. (To Miss AIeecii ) But you 
told me I was to meet Jier! 

Meech. (To Mrs. Hodges) Yes, where is 
Emily? 

Mrs. Tarberry. I am so eager to see her — to 
kiww her ! The New York papers have been full 
of her pictures. 

Mrs. Hodges. She'll be along in a minute. Zekel 
wanted her advice about nailin' up some boxes. 

Meech. Our first shipment to. the Red Cross 
goes off to-night. (Sits l. of r. table with some 
sezving) 

Mrs. Tarberry. That is so lovely, is it not' Oh, 
I love to see you dear people performing this sweet, 
brave service. 

" P.ANSY. (Quite radiant under this delidons 
praise) Eve decided to be a Red Cross nurse soon 
as Em old enough. 

Mrs. Tarberry. Oh, you dear child ! 

Pansy. (Encouraged to talk some more) Miss 
West wants to go for a nurse or something and so 
that's why I do. She's my ideal. 

Mrs. Cald. It's Emliy West got us all into 
this war work. 



88 THE LITTLE TEACHER 

Mrs. Hodges. It's Ejnily We'st is accountable for 
every good thing that's bein' done in this town. 
There's a new spirit, like as if we'd all come to life. 

Mrs. Tarberry. Oh, to have been there that 
wonderful moment when the truth about those chil- 
dren flashed on her ! 

Meecit. I'll never forget it to my dyin' day. 

Mrs. Tarberry. And then and there the Silician 
woman confessed the whole crime, circumstantially ? 

Mrs. Cald. Everything. How she had stolen 
the children 

Mrs. Hodges. Expectin' a great big ransom. 

Meech. It was in Central Park. 

Pansy. Their nurse had just turned her back for 
a minute. 

Meech. They were just babies. 

Mrs. Tarberry. Well, I never. 

Pansy. And Gresham wasn't the woman's hus- 
band at all. 

Mrs. Tarberry. Oh ! 

Meech. An irregular union. 

Mrs. Tarberry. Oh! Oh! 

Mrs. Cald. And the reason they was hiding here 
all them years was because the detectives had got 
after them and they got frightened, so they had 
to lay low. Thought they'd be safe in Goshen Hol- 
low. 

Mrs. Hodges. Safe they was, too, and would 
have been till Judgment Day if it hadn't been for 
Emily West. She seen the truth. 

Mrs. Tarberry. It seems incredible. How 
could she do it. 

- Mrs. Hodges. {With quiet sureness) She could 
do it because her eyes had love in them. 

Mrs. Tarberry. What a very beautiful thought ! 

Mrs. Hodges. (Stubbornly) 'Taint a thought, 
it's a fact. 

Mrs. Tarberry. (Sits at r. end of l. table) I 



THE LITTLE TEACHER 89 

must use that in my article. 

Mrs. Hodges. Article ! 

Mefxii. (Rises) Oh, I didn't tell you? Mrs. 
Tarberry writes. (Sits) 

Mrs. Tarberry. (Busy with notebook and pen- 
cil) " Vision through love."" That's very good. 

Mrs. Hodges. (Half to herself) Well, I don't 
know if Emily'll like that much. (Goe's up to head 
of R. table) 

Mrs. Tarberry. Let me see whether I have 
everything straight. (Referring to notes) '' The 
man is under sentence 

Meech. Exactly. 

j\1rs. Tarberry. " The woman extradited for an 
earlier offense." 

Mrs. Cald. Yes. 

Mrs. Tarberry. The real mother was found to 
be a Mrs. Dale—" 

Mrs. Hodges. Yes. 

Mrs. Tarberry. A young widow with a princely 
fortune, who is devoting her life, after a fruitless 
search for the children, to relief work in Franccr 

Pansy. Uh-huh. 

Mrs. Tarberry. I think that so very very beau- 
tiful, do not you? 

Mrs. Cald. Yes. 

Mrs. Tarberry. Have they had any word from 
the mother? 

Mrs. Cald. Any word? 

Mrs. Hodges. She's on her way home now. 

Mrs. Tarberry. Ah, is that really so. 

Mrs. Cald. Yes, and they're expectin' news any 
time about her landing. 

Mrs. Tarberry. Really. 

Emily. All right, Zekel. (Enters from the 
kitchen, her amis full of sewing) All three boxes 
are nailed up and ready to go. Isn't that jolly? 



90 THE LITTLE TEACHER 

(Conies to l. c. up-sfage; Mrs. Hodges up to head 
of table) 

Mrs. Tarberry. (To Mrs. Caldwell, in a soul- 
ful whisper) Is it shef 

Mrs. Cald. Yes. 

Mrs. Tarberry. (To Emily, as she rises) You 
wonderful girl ! 

Emily. (Surprised, coming down c.) I beg 
pardon. 

Mrs. Tarberry. Come, let me look at you. 

Emily. (Amused, not at all embarrassed or self- 
conscious) Why, certainly but there's nothing in 
the least wonderful about me, I assure you. 

Mrs. Tarberry. (Gushing and patronizing) Sit 
down. Talk to me ! I want to hear that voice 
of yours. 

Emily. (Perfectly refiising to play the heroine) 
Oh, you'll hear enough of my voice without my sit- 
ting down for it. Excuse me, but we're all so 
frightfully busy. 

Mrs. Tarberry. (Shaking her head very under- 
standingly) Simple and unspoiled as a child! 

Emily. And fully as incompetent. Have you 
come to help? 

Mrs. Tarberry. (Taken by surprise) Help? 
Oh, no. Er — that is, yes — in my wee way. 

Emily. Oh, then do take the basting threads out 
of these pajamas, that's a lamb. (Puts a pile of 
sezving on Mrs. Tarberry's lap. She sinks into a 
chair, speechless) 

Meech. (Rising) But, Miss West, this is Mrs. 
Tarberry — Cynthia Tarberry, you know, who wants 
to write you up for the Christian Companion. 

Emily. (Amused) Me! 

(Mrs. Hodges comes down r. of r. table.) 

Mrs. Tarberry. (With a sweet condescending 
smile) Yes. 



THE LITTLE TEACHER 91 

(Miss Meech moves upstage to head of r. table.) 

Emily. (Sturdily) Rubbish! With the war go- 
ing on and we in it, and our own boys going into 
the trenches. I assure you, basting threads are 
heaps more important. Now if you'll just take 
them out a'ong these seams, so. 

(Zekel enters from the kitchen with Andy and 
Marie gayly holding his hands and dancing 
along beside him, singing.) 

Zekel. Andy and Marie. (Singing) " How 
many miles to Babylon, Three-score miles and ten." 

(All look lip and laugh.) 

Zekel. (Stopping tip r. c. abashed and giggling) 
By gum, I c:ean forgot there was folks. 

Marie. (Coming dozvn to Emily) Teacher! 

Emily. Yes, darling? 

Marie. He wants you to help him again. 

Zekel. About them labels. Where do you want 
'em tacked? 

Emily. All right. (With alacrity, as she goes 
lip R.) Excuse me, everybody. (Exits, following 
Zekel and Andy into the kitchen) 

Mrs. Hodges. (Sitting in chair l. of r. table) 
Marie, come here. (J^nttons the child's dress as 
Marie crosses to her) 

Mrs. Tarberry. And so this is little Marie! 

Marie. I'm not so z^ery little. 

Mrs. Tarberry. (Sentimentally) Tell me, 
dearie, what is it like to be waiting for your own 
truly mother to come? 

Marie. (Sturdily, as she crosses to Mrs. Tar- 
berry) I like teacher best of anybody. (Dances 



92 THE LITTLE TEACHER 

ojf into the kitchen singing : '' Hozv many miles to 
Babylon '') 

Mrs. Tarberry. (Shaking he head zvisely) 
Mystery of the child heart. 

Aggie. (Runs on from l. and comes dozvn c.) 
Teacher here ? 

Mrs. Hodges. (Rises) What do you want with 
teacher ? 

(Miss Meech rises.) 

Aggie. (With smiling importance) Got a tele- 
gram. (Exhibits it) 

Pansy. I'll run and get her. (Exits to kitchen) 

Mrs. Cald. Where did you get it? 

Aggie. Operator over to the depot she gave it to 
Pa and Pa he give it to me. 

Meech. Do you know what's in it? 

Aggie. Sure ! 

Mrs. Hodges. (With eager curiosity) Who's it 
from ? 

Mrs. Cald. The mother? 

Aggie. (Nodding her head vigorously) Yep ! 
She's comin' to-day. 

Mrs. PIodges. (Startled and dismayed) Not 
to-day. 

Aggie. (With nods of her head) The operator 
she was afraid she'd get here ahead of the tele- 
gram 'cause she got nobody to send it over by and 
it came last night. 

Meech. Good heavens ! 

Mrs. Tarberry. How radiant her face will be 
when she opens it ! 

Mrs. Hodges. (Almost resentfully) It'll break 
the poor girl's heart ! 

Mrs. Tarberry. What! 

Mrs. Hodges. It'll only mean she loses 'em after 
all. 



i 



THE LITTLE TEACHER 93 

Emily. (Enters quickly, followed by Pansy, 
zvho goes doimi l.) Pansy says there's a message 
for me. (Aggie hands her the wire) Oh, thank 
you, Aggie. How kind of you to bring it. Excuse 
me, everybody. {Opens the wire and reads it. All 
watch her zvith breathless interest. She reads the 
message with quiet controlled attentiveness, ^silently, 
then as if it were a matter of every-day importance, 
she puis the message back into the envelope. A 
trained observer might notice an underlying tension, 
a resolute self-repression in this action; and there 
. is a little choke in her voice as she remarks quietly, 
smilingly, but with effort) Mrs. Dale is on her 
way here for the children. This was sent last night. 
She must be — she'll surely arrive very soon. {Forc- 
ing herself to smile cheerfully) Isn't that nice! 

Aggie. {With brazen curiosity) Teacher, are 
you glad? 

Emily. Glad? Why, aren't we all just as glad 
as we can be ! {Perfectly practical, and thinking 
quickly) But, people dear, I'm afraid that ends 
our work for this time. Mrs. Hodges and I have 
twenty million things to do before Mrs. Dale ar- 
rives. {Goes up c. and removes her cap and apron) 

(Mrs. Caldwell arid Pansy move the sezving ma- 
chine above the fireplace. The extra zvomen all 
take off their aprons, move the tables and chairs 
to either side of the room and exit, after good- 
byes to all. All talk ad lib. as they clear the 
room and exit.) 

Mrs. Tarberry. {Rises and goes upstage to 
Emily) Oh, let me stay and help? What can / 
do? 

Mrs. Hodges. {With decision) 'Fraid there 
ain't nothin' you can do, ma'am, but go. That'll 
help most. 



94 THE LITTLE TEACHER 

Meech. (Protesting to Emily) You're not 
going to send us away ! 

Emily. (V/ith friendly, winning insistence) Oh, 
but my dear, it'll be so much easier for the mother 
if there's no confusion, no distraction. (Putting the 
suggestion into immediate practice) Good-bye, 
Pansy. I'm glad you came. Good-bye, Aggie. Give 
a kiss to the twins for me. Good-bye, Mrs. Tar- 
berry. Come again and we'll have some more bast- 
ing threads for you. 

(Ad lib. good-byes from the women as they exit.) 

Mrs. Tarberry. (With effusion) You are won- 
derful ! 

Emily. (Matter-of-fact) So are you. (Mrs. 
Tarberry exits) Good-bye, Mrs. Caldwell. 

Mrs. Caldwell. Good-bye. Next time you'll 
come to my house, won't you? (Shakes hands with 
her) 

Emily. Indeed I will — and eat a big piece of your 
famous election cake, too. (Mrs. Caldwell exits. 
Mrs. Hodges moves np-stage r. c. facing Emily, 
who stands looking off l. There is a pause, then 
Emily turns slowly. Mrs. Hodges shakes her head 
in sympathy and holds out her arms. Emily, with 
a sob, goes to her, and is folded in her arms) 

Mrs. Hodges. Poor little girl ! 

Emily. I can't give them up ! I can't ! 

Mrs. Hodges. (Mothering her) I know, dear. 
It's harder'n if you'd never had them, ain't it ? 

Emily. Oh, I have to lose everything I ever 
love. First it was father, and then it was — ^you 
know — and now it's all I have left. I've got to lose 
them, too. 

(Marie and Andy enter fram the kitchen. Marie 
goes dozvn right of r. table and Andy l. of it.) 



THE LITTLE TEACHER 95 

Mrs. Hodges. That's the way hfe is, dear. Be 
brave. 

(Emily smothers her emotion, grips herself reso- 
lutely and comes down l. of R. table to the 
children.) 

Andy. Teacher, is our mother going to come to- 
day? 

Emily. Isn't it lovely. She may be here any 

minute. 

Andy. But I don't want her to come. 

Marie. Neither do I want her to come. 

Emily. {With her arms about both of them) 
Why, children. Not want your Mother to come! 

Andy. (l. of Emily) We only want you, al- 
ways. 

Marie, (r. of Emily) Teacher, why do we 
have to have a mother ? 

Emily. Why? You want to know why? 

Marie. Yes. 

Emily. Then listen and I'll tell you. {She 
draws the children to her. Mrs. Hodges exits l.) 
Every little child that comes into this big world 
begins by having a mother ; that is the way each new 
little life is meant to start ; and if anything happens 
to that mother — sometimes death takes her away 
or some accident separates them — then there is an 
empty place in your life that can never be filled no 
matter how hard you try. Oh, it's all very well, if 
you like, to have a make-believe mother. If there 
wasn't a real one to be had, why one could manage 
with a make-believe, but it would never be the same 
— it would always be just pretending. And if you 
want to know the difference, just wait until your 
own mother holds you tight in her arms — after such 
a long time of being without you — and you'll see. 
Why, it's going to be just like a fairy story coming 



96 THE LITTLE TEACHER 

true — with the Httle Ugly DuckHng happy for ever 
and ever and ever. Don't you see? (She kisses the 
children tenderly. Mrs. Hodges enters l. follozved by 
a nurse. A moment later Mrs. Dale, the mother, 
enters and comes to c. Mrs. LIodges and the maid 
exit. Mrs. Dale stands c. several seconds before 
Emily and the children turn and see her) 

Andy. (At last zvith a gasp of wonder) It's my 
angel ! 

(Emtly gives a gentle impulsion to the children, and 
they move toward their mother as if in a trance. 
At the end there is a qnick, starved gasp from 
the woman, a smothered ecstatic cry, and the 
tzvo children are gathered into her arms closely 
and passionately.) 

Mrs. Dale. (Kneeling, taking them in her arms) 
My Httle son! My little girl. My "own darlings! 
(A silence. She. rises and gases at Emily with awe) 
Is this, Emily? (The choking tears come to her) 
Oh, my dear, I owe them to you. I can't say thank 
you — I can't say anything — I feel so — (Helpless to 
express herself, she suddenly breaks out) Oh, if 
only something I could do ! Tell me something I 
can do for you — anything. 

Emily. (Just a little bit hurt) All I did — it 
wasn't much — was just from love. 

Mrs. Dale. (Impulsively, urgently) Oh, don't 
misunderstand me, dear. Let me do something, too, 
just from love. Tell me what you want most in all 
the world. If I can get it for you, I will. 

Emily. (Hesitating, then making up her mind 
and speaking zvith quiet frankness and re'solution) 
What I want most in all the world — I can't live un- 
less I have it — is to be where I'm needed — by some- 
one. I'm sure that over there — across— where peo- 
ple are suffering and hungry and dying — I might be 



THE LITTLE TEACHER 97 

needed-. Don't you think I might be needed ? Don't 
you think there's 'something I could do — over there ? 
Mrs. Dale. (With wonder and quiet joyfulness) 
And that's what you want most? (Emily nods) 
Then I must tell you something. When they told 
me there was no hope of my ever having my babies 
again — Oh, I couldn't just wait and starve myself 
with longing and do nothing — 1 crossed the ocean. 
There are so many children over there — in France 
— homeless, shattered by the horror of wi^ — help- 
less little beings, needing shelter and tender care. I 
opened a home for them down in the sunny south of 
France, and now there are almost a hundred of the 
timid little derelicts waiting to be brought back to 
health and vigor. (Crosses to Emily) Miss West, 
will you go and do my w^ork there? It's the most 
precious gift I have to give you. Will you take it? 
Emily. (With tremulous eagerness) Do you 
think I could do it ? 

Mrs. Dale. I think no one in the world could 
do it so well as you. 

Emily. Oh, I'd be so happy. 
Mrs. Dale. But dear, you must tell me first : is 
there no one needs you here? 

Emily. No one. (With a sudden wave of re- 
gret) Not now. 

Mrs. Dale. (Realizing that she means the chil- 
dren and giving her an understanding look) I 
know, dear ; but isn't there some one who has a spe- 
cial claim — and who loves you — in a special way. 
Emily. (With simple, wistful frankness) Not 
now. (Choking hack a sob) Just— there might 
have been. (Smiles pluckily) But there isn't so 
you see I'm free— absolutely— to go. 
(Mrs.^ Dale removes a badge from her bosom and 
pins It on Emily's. They clasp hands. A pause 
Zekel enters l. singing ''How many miles to 
Babylon.') 



^8 THE LITTLE TEACHER 



'^j 



Andy. (Rtinning to Zekel zvith a shout of de- 
light) Oh, see, Unc^e Zekel, this is our mother. 

Marie. (Tugging at his hands) This is our 
mother ! 

Zekel. {Embarrassed) I was only peekin' in 
to see who that bisf automobile out there be'0no"ed 
to. 

Marie. {Running hack to her mother) Oh, 
mother, have you got a automobile? 

Mrs. Dale. {With laughing acquiescence, tak- 
ing her hands) Yes, dear; and I came such a long- 
way in it as fast as ever I could just to find you. 

Zekel. It's a lallapa^.ooser. {Goes outside and 
holds the doar open until Mrs. Dale and the chil- 
dren exit) 

Andy. {Tugging Mrs. Dale tozvard the door) 
Oh, come on and see it quick. I never saw an auto- 
mobile. 

Marie. Can we have a ride in it, mother? 

Mrs. Dale. Yes, of course. Won't you come 
with us, Miss West? 

Andy. Oh, please, teacher, come and see the 
automobile. 

Emily. Not this time. 

Mrs. Dale. All right. We'll be right back. 
{Exits L. zvith the children) 

(Emily, left alone, realizes zvith a heart-broken 
pang, that all she loves deare'st in the zi'orld, 
has nozv been taken from her. She sinks into 
a chair stricken zvith an anguish of loneliness. 
A moment later Pug is visible at the zvindozv. 
He is in a U. S. M. C. uniform. He peers in, 
sees Emily, vaults through the windozv and 
comes down silently to l. of her. Slozvly she 
becomes azvare of his presence. Their eyes 
meet. She risers automatically, gasping out a 
zvordless cry of surprise that is almost conster- 



THE LITTLE TEACHER 99 

nation, for she cannot believe that what she 
sees before her is a reality.) 

Pug. (Quietly, but brokenly) I've come back, 
Miss Emily. 

Emtly. (Steadies herself by the table, dizzy, 
struggling not to faint, making a resolute effort to 
free her mind from this delusion) It's not true. 
It can't be true. 

Pug. (Bewildered) Why, aren't you glad? 

(Emily stares at him unable to utter a sound. The 
same instant Batiste enters briskly by the win- 
dozv. He too is in uniform.) 

Batiste. (With laughter, as he coines dozvn l. 
c.) Now, look here, Puggee, it ain't fair for you 
to make me wait outside while you get all the bo- 
quets. See, Miss, I got my uniform, too, just like 
him. 

Emily. (With sudden, almost hysterical laugh- 
ter) Oh, Batiste, Batiste. I just can't believe it. 
Is it really true. (She crosses and shakes hands with 
him, laughing through her tears) 

Batiste. (Proud and flattered and assuming that 
all her eager surprise refers to hiniself only) You 
see, I don't go let Puggee enlist and I not enHst too. 
Puggee he tell me if I don't enlist he paste me one 
in the puss — so I enlist. How you like it? 

Emily. (Turning to Pug with a look of dazed 
questioning) But I never dreamed — why did you 
never send me word? 

Batiste. (With eager volubility) Oh, we save 
this for one big surprise. Puggee there he say you 
be happy sure when you see he don' forget all what 
you teach him. So you see. Miss, if you never done 
nothing else for your countree, you mak' two fine 
soldiers. (Crosses and lines himself up alongside of 



loo THE LITTT.E TEACHER 

Pug) How you like it? (Back to l.) Of course, 
I don't get so much money as in Bridgeport, but 
money aint everything — there's the kaiser to Hck — 
eh, Puggee. (Observing Pug's tongue-tied silence) 
What's the matter? 

Pug. Batiste, you talk too much. 

Batiste. Well, somebody got to talk. (Noting 
the little symbol on Emily's breast) Oh, but look, 
lady, that pretty little star. \\'hat does that mean? 

Emily. (Shyly, after a little pause) Fm going, 
too. 

Pug. Yon ! 

Batiste. (Baring his head) By God, lady, fine 
and dandy. Put her there. (He gives her hand a 
hearty clasp) Come, Puggee, wake up. Say some- 
thing to her. Your turn. (Moves across to l. and 
stands at the table with his back turned to the two) 

Pug. (Takes a step toward her, overcome with 
his old shyness) Is it true? (Emily nods shyly, 
happily, unable to speak) But the children? 

Emily. Don't you know? They've found their 
real mother. Pm free. 

Pug. (After a brief silence) Then — we're both 
going. 

Emily. (Oppressed with the same embarrass- 
meyit) Yes. 

Pug. Well — how if I was to — (He cannot com- 
plete the thought; and she does it for him with a 
tender, radiant smile) 

Emily. Together ? 

Pug. (With dumb yearning) Emily. Will you? 

Emily. (Giving him both her hands in a move- 
ment of surrender) My dear boy! (PuG, speech- 
less, crushes her hands against his breast; puts his 
arm about her, and with her head against his 
shoulder, the tzvo move sloivly up to the open 
windoiv) 



THE LITTLE TEACHER lOi 

(Mrs. Dale and the children are seen, hand in hand, 
passing outside the windozu from L. to R. 
laughing gayly.) 

Batiste. (Sitting down-stage l. singing) 
" Over there, over there, 
Send the word, send the word over there, 
That the Yanks are coming, 
The Yanks are coming — " 

Curtain 



T02 THE LITTLE TEACHER 



ACT I— PROPERTY PLOT 

Snow Cloth 

Ground Cloth 

Country Wood Stove, pipe, etc. 

Stove Wood 

Five Rough Wooden Desks 

Six Rough Wooden benches 

One small Rough Wooden Table 

Three Small Wooden Chairs 

One Small Clothes Rack, three pegs above Teach- 
er's desk 

One Raised platform for teacher's desk 

Desk for teacher (Rough) 

One lantern with candle 

Matches on teacher's desk 

Globe of World on teacher's desk 

Small Clock on Teacher's desk 

Tap Bell on Teacher's desk 

Small stuffed dog on teacher's desk 

Large dictionary on teacher's desk 

Small Japanese doU on Teacher's desk 

Pens, paper, ink well, etc. on teacher's desk 

On school desks are first and second readers, slates 
and pencils, paper, picture books, etc., also on 
table down center children's blocks and strings 
of bead counters. 

Large Iron Tea Kettle on stove down left 

On side table of¥ left are large tin dipper of water, 
large tin wash basin, half filled with shaved ice, 
two clean face towels and two lunch boxes 

Two cigar boxes (Lucius and Damien) 

Large Satin Bag for Miss West with emergency 
medicine case with powders made of sugar, etc. 
and sure fire 38-calibre revolver 

One set Sleigh Bells off Right 

Pictures, etc. on walls. 



THE LITTLE TEACHER ^ 103 
ACT I— LIGHT PLOT 

One 3 section X-ray Border light, each Section on 
separate Dimmer 

Two extra Lights on Border Right and controlled 
separate color in Border amber 

Three lo-light Amber Strips in Foots, each on .sep- 
arate dimmer 

Outside Windows 

Three 1000- Watt Lamps, left 
Three 1000- Watt Lamps, right 
One Lens Lamp right 

Two hanging lamps. Rough and not practical, hang- 
ing from ceiling in room 

Red Glow in Stove. An Electric Stove, practical, 
set in top of stove Left to boil water in kettle 

At Rise, Lamps outside window (Straw) 

At Exit of Mrs. Caldwell and Miss Meech change 
slowly to Amber. At entrance of Pug and Ba- 
tiste change very slow to red 

Bring Center and Left Section of foots down to % 

Bring border slowly to ^ 

When Pug lights Lantern bring center and left sec- 
tion of foots to }2 and Right to ^, and slowly dim 
border to j4 

At Cue — Sleighbells start. Slowly change Lamp 
outside to blue 

Bring Plouse Blue foots on }i 

At Pug's exit dim Center and Left Section of foots 
to }i Right Section to j^ and dim border slow- 
ly out 

At Curtain Pull all white and Amber Hghts, leav- 
ing Blue foots for picture 

ACT II— PROPERTY PLOT 

Ingrain Carpet covers stage 
Linoleum on floor outside kitchen door 



I04 THE LITTLE TEACHER 

Snow Cloth 

Small practical organ and stool 

Large Arm Chair 

Large Sofa two arms 

Three chairs upholstered 

Dining room table 

Oil Cloth cover for table 

Old fashioned Red Table cloth 

Five old fashioned Dining room chairs 

Two hassocks 

Five knives, forks, spoons, plates, cups, saucers 

Two large table spoons 

One dish Apple Sauce 

One dish Fried potatoes 

One dish bread 

One dish butter 

Cream pitcher, sugar bowl, etc 

One earthen tea pot and tea 

One small stand 

Clock on mantle 

Vases on mantle 

Old fashioned What-Not and China 

Bric-a-Brac, etc. to dress same 

Curtains on Windows 

Portiere on Arch at window with valance 

Carpet on stairs 

Andy's coat, and needle and thread 

Tin candle stick and candle. Matches 

Briar pipe for Batiste 

Cob pipe and tobacco for Zekel 

Large dish tray off right 

Side table off right 

China closet with China 

Old fashioned Fancy Bootjack, vases on china cioset 

Organ and small stand 

Pictures in old fashioned frames. If possible get 

photos as old fashioned as you can with frames, 

to hang on walls 



THE LITTLE lEACHER 105 

Fire Irons, etc., for fireplace 

Straps for Gresham 

Work basket with stockings, darning cotton, etc. 

ACT II— LIGHT PLOT 

1 000- Watt Lamps and Lens 

Lamp outside Window blue and stand for Act 

Grate Glow for fireplace 

Hanging Lamp (practical) connected with Border 
or house foots to go with same at Cue 

Large Stand Lamp with practical battery miniture 
lamp 

At Rise, your X-Ray borders, your strips in foots 
on Amber; also House foots full on 

As Mrs. Hodges blows out Lamp pull your Border, 
the lamp, house foots and bring your strips in 
foots down one-half ; leaving the single lights 
in Border Right full up, shining down on Or- 
gan as if coming from Stand lamp. 

ACT III— PROPERTY PLOT 

School Desks and Benches are bare 

Blackboards are changed on Walls 

On Blackboard left is : 

"First Robin seen March 15th by Damien 

Bailey " 
''First Mayflower on April 15th by Lucius 
Bowman " 

On Blackboard Right is a verse of poetry and be- 
low that Pug has tried to parse the sentence : 
" The stag at Eve had drunk his fill " 

Chalk, Erasers, etc. on Boards 

American Flag draped over Windows at Center 

Book of Poems for Pug 

Pens, Ink, Ink well, Dictionary, etc. on Teacher's 
desk 



io6 THE LITTLE TEACHER 

Large Piece of Chalk on teacher's desk 
Small bunch Mayflowers for Miss West 
Legal Document for Gresham 
Paper with sentence " The Stag, etc " for Pug 

ACT HI— LIGHT PLOT 

Border, house foots and strips in foots full up 
looo-Watts and Lens Lamp on outside (Straw) 
stand for Act 

ACT IV— PROPERTY PLOT 
Same as Act II except dishes, etc. 
One long tab^e Down Left with oil cloth cover and 

six chairs 
Dining room table down Right with six chairs 
vSewing Machines and chair down Left 
Small Round Stool for Pansy down Left 
Six work baskets with needles, thimbles, thread, etc. 

on tables 
Two dozen pairs unfinished pajamas on tables for 

extra women 
Four Pairs unfinished pajamas off Right for Miss 

West 
Flowers in Vases around room 
English, American and French flags on rod draped 

over window center 
Telegram for Aggie 

Small note book and pencil for Mrs. Tarberry 
Honor badge for Mrs. Dale 

ACT IV— LIGHT PLOT 

Same as Act III outside Window, and on stage. 
Stand for Act. 

ACT IV 

Scene same as Act II 

On the outside drop same as Act III, with fence 

Ground Row with vines and flowers growing up 

around it 



Deacidified using the Bookkeeper process. 
Neutralizing agent: Magnesium Oxide 
Treatment Date: Oct. 2009 

PreservationTechnologies 

A WORLD LEADER IN COLLECTIONS PRESERVATION 

111 Thomson Park Drive 
Cranberry Township, PA 16066 
(724)779-2111 



